
La Belle Ferronnière
Leonardo DA VINCI
Several identifications of the model have been proposed: Lucrezia Crivelli, Cecilia Galleriani (who were mistresses of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan) Beatrice d'Este who was his wife. The name Belle Ferronnière comes from a confusion of this portrait with another one, supposed to represent the wife of Le Ferron, mistress of François I and known as the Belle Ferronnière. The confusion was made easier by the jewel, called ferronnière, which the model wears on her forehead.
La Belle Ferronnière / Leonardo DA VINCI
© RMN-Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre) / Michel Urtado