“Portrait of Juana of Austria with a Young Girl,” executed by the artist Sofonisba Anguissola in 1561, is an oil painting on canvas. The artwork, belonging to the Mannerism (Late Renaissance) art movement and categorized under the genre of portraiture, is currently housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Fenway Court), Boston, MA, US.
The artwork depicts Juana of Austria, elegantly attired in a sumptuously dark gown characteristic of the period’s noble attire, complete with a high lace ruff and a jeweled pendant prominently displayed against her black clothing. Her countenance, serene and composed, contrasts with the presence of a young girl standing beside her, adorned in a detailed green dress with gold sleeves and holding pink and white flowers in her hand. The subtle play of light captures the intricate textures of their garments, while the muted background emphasizes the subjects’ distinguished bearing and the nobility of their presence.