Portrait of a Lady in a White Dress Trimmed in Pink 

Francesco Salviati painted this portrait in the mid-16th century, using oil on panel. While portraits were conventional at the time, it’s worth considering the labor embedded in this painting, and especially in the sitter’s clothing. Think of the complex weaving of the fabrics, the delicate lace trim at the collar, and the embroidery along the pink sections of the dress. All of this was painstakingly produced by skilled hands. The gold jewelry, too, represents specialized work. Salviati has rendered these materials with great care, giving us a sense of their textures. Consider the weight and drape of the gown, which is captured through the artist’s manipulation of light and shadow. These details speak to the sitter's social status, and also to the vast amount of labor required to produce such finery. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate the artistic skill involved and to consider the wider social context.