This Allegorical Figure is difficult to classify and uses an iconography that is hard to identify. It has been dated to the late 16^th century, based on an interpretation of its style. The way in which the body is painted, the anatomical alterations and its almost sculptural look suggest that it is Mannerist in style. It is probably the work of a Flemish, Nordic or French painter who trained and worked in Italy who was no stranger to the radical innovations in form introduced by Pontormo or Bronzino. The panel has probably been cut down: this would explain the missing left hand and arm, which probably held a symbolic item or another more or less literal reference that would make the figure easier to identify.

The woman has the appearance of a pagan matron or lavishly attired mother goddess, so this is most probably a mythological or allegorical figure rather than a biblical one. Just a few of its elements would enable the literary reference to be identified, but it remains shrouded in mystery: the mirror is the conventional symbol of arrogance and vanity, representing earthly things. Along with the opulent jewellery and unconcealed sensuality it suggests that this could be a moralising allegory. The eagle peeking out at the bottom might be an allusion to Jupiter, in which case the female figure could be one of the numerous conquests of the god in animal form. It may be apocryphal as far as the canonical narratives of classical mythology are concerned.

Comment updated by Carlos Martín

Alfonso Pérez Sánchez