Lucrezia Borgia, Portrait of a Roman woman in white tunic and red robe c. 1862 - 1866

Anselm Feuerbach painted this portrait of a Roman woman using oil on canvas. The application of oil paint in thin, translucent layers, a technique known as glazing, gives the painting a luminous quality, especially visible in the folds of the red robe. The choice of oil paint, a relatively recent innovation at the time, allowed Feuerbach to achieve a high level of detail and realism in the rendering of the woman's features and clothing. The smooth, almost porcelain-like finish of the skin contrasts with the rich texture of the velvet robe, demonstrating the artist's mastery of the medium. The painting reflects the 19th-century interest in historical subjects and the revival of classical styles. The woman's garments are inspired by ancient Roman attire, and her pose and expression evoke a sense of timeless beauty. Feuerbach's ability to capture the textures and details of the fabrics and jewelry adds to the overall sense of realism and historical accuracy. The use of oil paint allowed Feuerbach to create a timeless image, blurring the lines between historical portraiture and contemporary artistic expression.