Giancarlo Prandelli, Tribute to Isabella d'Este and to the Lady with an Ermine, pencil on cardboard, 21x32cm (D273)

This work by Giancarlo Prandelli is a representation of Leonardo’s notable portrait of Isabella D’Este. She was the Marchesa of Mantua and was known for her authoritative persona during the Renaissance. Even though Leonardo’s portrait is unfinished, it depicts perfection related to universal beauty. It is considered one of the finest portraits, with the head in profile. Prandelli on the other hand has made very specific choices with this artwork. He chose a strong yellow color to symbolise knowledge. The drawing is made in pencil in a simplistic manner, but the artist adds complexity to it by placing a unicorn in Isabella’s arms. Interestingly, the unicorn can be compared to the ermine in the “Lady with an Ermine”. We are left wondering as to why Prandelli decided to place these two unrelated entities together.