An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of a Girl1547
Artist: Georg Pencz
German, active c. 1500–1550
Coat of Arms at right identified as that of Kuetraffer family of Regensburg, identification of the young girl not obtained.
24 1/8 x 19 5/8 in. (61.28 x 49.85 cm) (canvas)
Oil on canvas
Painting
Germany
16th century
Bequest of Miss Tessie Jones in memory of Herschel V. Jones
In a quiet corner of 16th century Nuremberg, where cobblestone streets whispered tales of art and devotion, a shadow drawn in paint captured the essence of a young woman bathed in the glow of prosperity. The delicate strokes of Georg Pencz’s brush brought forth an image of grace, yet the woman herself remained an enigma, her identity cloaked in the mystery of unrecognized family crests that adorned the corners of the canvas.
Pencz, once a celebrated figure in the city, had tasted the bitterness of exile. Banished for his radical Protestant beliefs, he wandered the world outside the protective walls of Nuremberg, a solitary artist with a fervent conviction. It was a time when secrets painted in color mingled with the starkness of reality, and each swath of paint became a testament to the trials of the heart.
Yet, fate is a capricious artist. Just weeks after Pencz's return, the City Council, once steadfast in its Catholic beliefs, swung toward Protestantism, welcoming Pencz back into their fold, as if forgiving the past sins of his outspoken nature. In the serene light of that spring day, life turned, and as he held his brush, perhaps he too felt the tides of change sweeping through his work.
In that vibrant moment, with each stroke on the canvas, hope flickered—a young woman, an artist, a city reborn in faith and artistry. The portrait stands not just as a reflection of an individual, but as a silent witness to a pivotal moment in history, filled with aspirations, beliefs, and the unwavering spirit of the human soul. In her gaze, we see not only her story but an echo of the resilience that marks the art of humanity, a peace found in the complexity of identity and belief.
About the artist
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