Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni
The Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuon is a painting by the Italian
Renaissance painter Domenico Ghirlandaio, dated 1488, in the
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. This portrait was commissioned
by Lorenzo his Tornabuoni after the death of his wife in 1488 and contains
many symbolic details. Many aspects of this portrait have symbolic
meaning, emphasizing wealth, status and piety. Giovanna's tastefully
dressed reflects her status and the wealth of her family. These emblems
mark Giovanna's family and show where her visible wealth came from. In
addition to clothing, the presence of beads and brooches also emphasizes
family wealth. Another symbol in the portrait is her beaded necklace of
corals. The coral beads in the background are believed to be a rosary
symbolizing Giovanna's religious piety. Scientific analysis has established
that the painting was created in brush strokes. There are some differences
between the draft and the final painting. The final portrait was more
idealized than the original sketch.