Portrait of Vittoria Farnese

Vittoria Farnese (1521-1602) was the wife of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duck of Urbino. She is dressed in black with a light veil over her head and a stiff collar: a form of dress that conforms to the Catholic Counter-reformation style. A gold pendant with a large stone hangs down to the chest and from the fabric belt hangs a rosary with beads of rock crystal. She is represented three quarter length.

This painting is one of the rare works which the artist signed and dated.