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Bust of a Princess

Bust of a Princess is a c.1485 marble sculpture by the Italian Renaissance sculptor Francesco Laurana. Measuring 44 × 44 × 24 cm, it is notable for its idealized, perfectly square form, with both the height and depth measuring 44 cm. The work was in the Condé family collection at château d'Écouen by 1793 and entered the Louvre in 1818, where it remains today. Although the circumstances of its creation are unknown, its iconography is similar to Laurana's 1468 Portrait of Eleanor of Aragon in Palermo. The sculpture’s emphasis on idealisation may reflect the influence of Piero della Francesca, whom Laurana may have seen in Urbino in his youth.

White marble bust of a princess with a serene expression and close-fitting cap on a dark base in a museum display.
White marble bust of a princess by Francesco Laurana displayed in a museum case.
· CC BY 2.5
Marble bust of a young princess with her head gently lowered and eyes cast down.
Bust of a princess in white marble, shown with a serene downward gaze.
© Francesco Laurana (Italian, 1430–1502) · Public domain
White marble bust of a princess with downcast eyes and a simple bob hairstyle, displayed in a museum gallery.
A white marble bust of a princess displayed on a dark base in a softly lit museum interior.
January 2009 · CC BY 2.5
Pale marble bust of a young woman wearing a close-fitting headpiece
A pale marble bust of a young woman, displayed on a dark pedestal in a museum setting.
October 2022 © · CC0
White marble bust of a princess with stylized features and pulled-back hair on a dark base.
Bust of a Princess by Francesco Laurana, shown in white marble against a warm-toned wall.
2011 © shakko · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleBust of a Princess
Alternative titleBusto di principessa
TypePortrait bust

Historical context

Datec. 1468

Creator

ArtistFrancesco Laurana
NationalityItalian
MovementRenaissance

Materials

MaterialMarble

Physical characteristics

StyleSynthesis and geometric purity of forms
Facial featuresRefined, slender beauty with facial features reduced to the essential
HairHair gathered under a veil that covers the ears and gives the head a smoother, more rounded appearance
CompositionBust including the shoulders, cut off at chest height
ShapeForms a perfect square; the portrait can be inscribed within an ideal square
Depth24 cm
Width44 cm
Height44 cm
Dimensions44 × 44 × 24 cm

Iconography and meaning

Stylistic principleIdealisation
Related workPortrait of Eleanor of Aragon (1468), in Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo
InterpretationUsually related to the Portrait of Eleanor of Aragon because of evident formal and stylistic analogies
InfluenceClose to the works of Piero della Francesca
Possible influence contextThe sculptor may have seen the works of Piero della Francesca in Urbino in his youth

Discovery and provenance

Creation contextUnknown
ProvenanceOriginally unknown; in the Condé family collection at Château d'Écouen by 1793; entered the Louvre in 1818

Location and ownership

Current locationLouvre Museum, Paris, France

History and restoration

Current statusIt remains in the Louvre