Portrait of Ginevra Benci 1474

Leonardo da Vinci painted this portrait of Ginevra Benci, likely in the 1470s, capturing the young Florentine noblewoman against a backdrop of juniper. Note the juniper bush behind Ginevra. "Ginevra," is derived from "ginepro," the Italian word for juniper, which is a symbol of chastity. This wordplay, a common Renaissance practice, subtly links her identity with virtues and familial emblems. The juniper's presence thus extends beyond mere botanical detail; it serves as a symbolic layer connecting Ginevra to her name and social identity. Think of the "Madonna of the Rose Garden" by Schongauer, where the rose is a Marian symbol of love and also refers to the location of the painting. Likewise, in Botticelli's "Primavera", the orange trees might evoke the Medici family. These symbols aren’t static; they evolve and resurface, embodying the complex, often subconscious interplay between the personal and the collective, the past and the present.