Portrait of a Young Fiancée - Leonardo da Vinci

A refined profile portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, executed in coloured chalks and ink on vellum, depicting a young noblewoman in Renaissance attire.

This profile portrait, often referred to as La Bella Principessa, depicts a young woman in a strict side profile. The subject wears a Renaissance-era coazzone, a long, braided hairstyle encased in a silk net. Her dress features decorative knotwork along the shoulder, a detail common in the Milanese court of the late fifteenth century. Leonardo da Vinci employs a delicate application of coloured chalks, ink, and wash on vellum to achieve the soft modelling of the subject's face. The light source originates from the left, casting subtle shadows that define the bridge of the nose, the lips, and the curve of the chin.

The composition follows the tradition of profile portraiture popular in Italy during the period, yet it possesses a distinct softness in the facial features that deviates from the rigid linearity of earlier Quattrocento works. The vellum support retains a warm, aged tone, which provides a neutral backdrop for the subject. The artist uses fine, hatched lines to build up the texture of the hair and the fabric of the garment, while the skin tones remain smooth and blended. This work demonstrates the technical precision associated with Leonardo's studio practice in Milan. The subject is widely identified as Bianca Sforza, the daughter of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. The portrait was likely created to commemorate her marriage to Galeazzo Sanseverino in 1496. The work remains a subject of study regarding its attribution and the specific techniques used to create the subtle transitions of light and shadow across the sitter's features.