This elegant polychrome wooden bust depicting a noble lady, judging by the elegance of her clothing and hairstyle, is the work of an early 15th-century artist from Tuscany who was influenced by the works of Francesco di Valdambrino, a great master of International Gothic. Wood carving played a key role in the figurative production of Siena in the 14th and 15th centuries. Although subject to rapid wear and tear due to the delicacy of the material, it occupied an essential place in the liturgical activities of sacred complexes in cities and small towns. Established and developed by Agostino da Giovanni (active between 1310 and 1347), who established the purity of the models that inspired sculptors throughout the Tuscan Middle Ages, it is the rich polychromy that distinguishes wood carving from the pure white of marble and makes it appreciated for its “naturalistic” appearance and refined, almost abstract beauty. In keeping with the Italian tradition of sculpted Renaissance portraits, our female figure is depicted frontally, with her bust cut off at chest level. Her face is framed by a refined and meticulously crafted hairstyle; particularly decorative, it surprises with its elaborate design of a braided chignon wrapped around the back of her head with a ribbon. The young woman's features convey a great gentleness, an impression reinforced by her thin eyelids and modest, somewhat enigmatic gaze. The timeless elegance and remarkable delicacy of the portrait reveal subtle skin tones with pink pigmentation on the cheeks, denoting a quest for naturalism; these catch the light and accentuate the radiance and contours of the facial features. The carmine lips and blue pupils animate this bust with a slightly anxious expression conveyed by her thin, half-open mouth... as if she were about to say something to us. The simplicity of the dress, with its wide round neckline curving at the back, further emphasises and frames the portrait, which stands out graphically. Contrasting with the greatly simplified forms of the bust, a sophisticated trompe l'oeil decoration simulates brocade borders and lace adorning a shirt and dress with rounded collars.
