“Portrait of Margaret Wyatt, Lady Lee” is an artwork by Hans Holbein the Younger, created in 1540 in Germany. The medium used is a combination of oil, wood, and tempera, and it belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement. The dimensions of the portrait are 42.5 x 32.7 cm, and it falls under the genre of portraiture.
The artwork depicts a woman identified as Margaret Wyatt, Lady Lee, adorned in a dark, richly embroidered dress, indicative of her high social status. Her attire is meticulously detailed, showcasing fine fabric textures and elaborate accessories, including a headpiece decorated with pearls and intricate designs. Her facial expression is calm and composed, with a direct gaze that suggests a sense of authority and dignity. The painting’s backdrop is plain and dark, which accentuates the subject’s presence and the luxurious details of her clothing. The use of chiaroscuro—a technique characterized by the contrast between light and dark—enhances the three-dimensional quality of the figure, providing depth and realism to the portrait. Notably, the age “34” is inscribed on either side of the subject’s head, indicating her age at the time the portrait was painted.
