“A Sibyl” by Domenico Ghirlandaio is a fresco created between 1483 and 1486 during the Early Renaissance. The artwork falls within the genre of religious painting. The fresco depicts a sibyl, a prophetic figure from antiquity, rendered in the distinctive style characteristic of the Early Renaissance.
In the fresco, a seated sibyl holds a scroll with a prophetic inscription. She is clad in flowing robes of red and green, which gracefully drape over her form, creating an intricate play of light and shadow. The background features an aureole of golden rays, lending a divine and celestial atmosphere to the scene. The artist’s meticulous attention to drapery detail and the serene, composed expression of the sibyl embody the ideals of beauty and harmony that are hallmarks of the Early Renaissance period. The artwork is framed by an ornate architectural border, further emphasizing its sacred and authoritative nature.
