Madrid or Lombard school; c. 1680.

Madrid or Lombard school; c. 1680.
"Portrait of a lady.
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 60 x 46 cm; 61.5 x 47 cm (frame).
From the aesthetic point of view, the attention to the face stands out as the expressive center of the composition, as well as the delicacy in the transition of lights and shadows, a characteristic feature of late-baroque naturalism. The treatment of the lace and ornamental elements reveals an interest in material verisimilitude, without falling into decorative excess.
This Portrait of a Lady is part of the European portrait tradition of the late 17th century, where female representation combines compositional sobriety and symbolic refinement. The work participates in the formal languages of both the Madrid and Lombard schools, visible in the restrained treatment of the figure, the dark neutral background and the soft lighting that models the face without excessive theatricality.
The image responds to an ideal of decorum and seclusion typical of the period: the figure appears in an introspective attitude, with her gaze lowered, a gesture that underlines values associated with virtue, modesty and moral interiority. The attire, of rich but discreet materials, and the floral adornment in the hair function as markers of social status, while balancing austerity and elegance.