Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci

http://www.czartoryski.org/lady.htm
29th March, 2009 There is something to be said for looking at only one picture in a gallery visit. Or even on a visit to a city! In our case 'Lady with an Ermine' by Leonardo da Vinci in the Czartoryski Palace (Museum). There were a handful of other famous old Masters but this one almost leapt off the wall. Kept in a darkened room, the only picture hung there, her skin colour glows - in particular the too large hand stroking the ermine. I found myself alternating between gazing at her guileless face, imagining the silky feel of the net(silk?) veil fitting the shape of her head exactly and then feeling rather repulsed by the sinews of her hand. A very real hand - not some tiny effete blob too small for the body which is the mistaken amateur painters make in life drawing. But this is striking in its over-size. And so close to the ermine, with its delineated muzzle and the protruding sinews of its leg. Physicality of real bodies, not just some untouchable saint. But somehow rather creepy too.