“Lady Butts,” created circa 1543 by Hans Holbein the Younger, is an oil painting on panel measuring 46 by 37 centimeters. This Northern Renaissance portrait is housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Fenway Court) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The artwork portrays a mature woman with distinctive attire characteristic of the period. She is depicted wearing a dark, elegant dress complemented by a headdress with white lace trim and a delicate chain around her neck, which bears a pendant. The somber and refined color palette emphasizes the dignified expression of the lady, capturing her age and poise with meticulous detail. The background is minimal, directing attention to the figure’s serene and composed demeanor. The inscription “ANNO ÆTATIS SVÆ LVII” at the top indicates the subject’s age, underscoring the portrait’s intention to convey both the character and the stature of the sitter within the historical context of the Northern Renaissance.
