Portrait of Princess Evelyne Colonna di Stigliano 

Vittorio Matteo Corcos painted this portrait of Princess Evelyne Colonna di Stigliano, and the artist employs a rich symbolic language, deeply rooted in tradition. The curtain is the key motif here, drawn aside as if to reveal the princess herself as a work of art, a spectacle of wealth and status. This gesture echoes through art history, harking back to ancient depictions of deities unveiled and the Renaissance portrayals of nobility, each revealing a carefully constructed image. The act of unveiling is not merely a physical one, but a symbolic revelation of the subject's inner self, or at least the persona they wish to project. Consider, too, how the same gesture appears in religious art, where the drawing aside of a veil can symbolize the unveiling of divine truth. In this portrait, the curtain hints at the psychological complexities beneath the surface, engaging us on a subconscious level. It is an invitation to delve deeper, to consider the layers of identity and representation. This motif of unveiling is cyclical, constantly reappearing and evolving, bearing witness to the shifting sands of history and culture.