Why does this lady have a fly on her head? | National Gallery

Summary

In this video, a museum curator analyzes a 15th century portrait of an unnamed German woman from the Hofer family. She highlights details conveying the sitter's wealth and the artist's skill in creating a hyper-realistic image, down to each eyelash and fur trim. The curator hypothesizes why there is a fly on the woman's headwear - as a joke for viewers to demonstrate the painter's ability to create illusion. She traces this impulse back to early Greek painting and its radical illusionism, making images seem so real that birds would try to eat painted grapes. Though the portrait's origins remain mysterious, it came to the museum via a love story between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Takeaways

• 😊 The portrait depicts an unnamed German woman from the wealthy Hofer family in 1470
• 👩‍🎨 The identity of both the subject and the artist who painted this portrait are unknown
• 👗 The fine clothes and jewels worn by the woman signify her wealth and high social status
• 🌼 She holds a sprig of forget-me-nots, which may relate to love, marriage, or remembrance
• 👘 Her pristine white headdress exemplifies the skill of the artist in rendering fabric
• 🪰 A fly sits on the headdress, tricking the viewer into momentarily thinking it's real
• 😜 The fly is likely an inside joke that the woman would have appreciated
• 🎨 The extreme realism reflects how Renaissance art aimed to capture nature convincingly
• 😍 The portrait was a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, linking it to a love story
• 🔍 Close examination rewards the viewer with appreciation for the artist's virtuosity

Q & A

Who is the woman in the portrait and what clues do we have about her identity?

We don't know for certain who the woman is. The only clue is an inscription indicating she was born into the Hofer family, but Hofer is a very common surname in that region at the time.

Why would the woman have worn expensive clothes and jewelry for the portrait?

The clothes and jewelry, like the fur lining and gold rings, indicate the wealth and status of the subject. Fine portraits were very expensive so subjects wanted to showcase their affluence.

What is the significance of the forget-me-not flowers the woman is holding?

Art historians think objects held by portrait subjects offer clues, but here the meaning is unclear. Forget-me-nots may symbolize love or remembrance, but we don't know if that applies to this portrait.

Why did the artist paint the intricate details of the woman's white headdress?

The headdress shows off the artist's technical skill in depicting texture, light, and shadow. It also symbolizes the subject's wealth to be able to keep such a garment so immaculate.

What is the purpose of painting the fly in the portrait?

The fly adds an element of visual trickery and humor. It fools the viewer initially into thinking it's real. This demonstrates the artist's ability to paint highly realistic illusions.

How does the fly relate to the origins of Western painting?

The illusionism connects to stories of ancient Greek painters like Zeuxis who could paint grapes so lifelike that birds tried to eat them. The goal was to trick viewers with realism.

Would the portrait's subject have been aware of the fly when sitting for the painting?

Almost certainly yes. The fly seems to be an intentional joke that the woman was likely in on at the end when she saw the finished work.

How did the portrait make its way into the National Gallery's collection?

Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert gifted her the painting. She then donated it to the National Gallery as part of its founding collection.

Why does the curator say this portrait rewards close looking?

There are abundant small details that reveal information and delight viewers, like the intricate clasps, pins, and stitches - plus the humor of the trompe l'oeil fly.

What is the overall importance of this particular portrait to the curator?

More than a noteworthy work, this portrait makes her smile every time with its playful trickery. It also epitomizes painters' enduring ingenuity and skill.