Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Woman: A High Renaissance Masterpiece Explored

Portrait of a Young Woman
Raphael, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

Introduction 

Portrait of a Young Woman, attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Santi) with contributions by Giulio Romano, is a poignant expression of early 16th-century Renaissance portraiture. 

Executed around 1518–1520, the oil on panel (poplar) painting measures approximately 60 × 44 cm and today resides in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Strasbourg. 

Purchased in London by Wilhelm von Bode in 1890, the work has traversed from private collections to become a public treasure, emblematic of Raphael’s late style and workshop dynamics. 

Its intimate scale, refined technique, and subtle emotional resonance invite viewers into a contemplative, beautifully restrained world of noble presence and painterly grace.

1. Artistic Specialties

Medium and Technical Innovation

Rendered in oil on a poplar panel, Portrait of a Young Woman reflects a sophisticated integration of Raphael’s design sensibilities and Giulio Romano’s execution. X-ray examinations reveal that the head, neck, and bust were likely painted by Giulio after Raphael's design, while Raphael himself later added the hand, sleeves, and chemise, concealing the sitter’s cleavage. This blending of atelier collaboration results in a composition rich in both immediacy and refinement. 

Portrait of a young woman
 Raphael, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Composition and Presence

The sitter is positioned in bust-length, gazing outward with a quiet dignity against a dark, almost neutral background. 

Her contemplative expression and restrained posture evoke serenity. The dark backdrop prevents distraction, drawing focus to the sitter’s luminous skin and facial features, a hallmark of Raphael’s portraiture.

Use of Light, Color, and Texture

Despite the painting’s small dimensions, Raphael’s palette delivers soft, warm tones contrasting against the dark background. The subtle gradations and delicate handling of light create a sense of volume and fleshly realism. Fabric textures—particularly in the sleeves and bodice—exhibit gentle modeling and tactile richness.

Atmosphere and Emotional Resonance

While not overtly expressive, the sitter communicates emotional depth through simplicity. The hand and sleeves added by Raphael contribute gestures of modesty and decorum. The portrait achieves a remarkable balance between individuality and universality, suggesting both a particular woman and an ideal of feminine grace.

2. Provenance, Collections, and Auction History 

Portrait of a Young Woman
Raphael, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

Provenance Trajectory

The painting’s early history is incompletely documented, but it was present in London’s Acton collection before its acquisition by Wilhelm von Bode in 1890. 

Bode purchased it in London and then ensured its entry into Strasbourg’s municipal collection, where it remains inventory number 175. 

Museum Ownership and Legacy

Since its accession by the Strasbourg museum, the portrait has served as both an object of study for Raphael’s late-period style and as a jewel in the museum’s Italian Renaissance holdings. The institution highlights its collaborative authorship and its refined depiction of courtly elegance, lending public access to a work that originated as a private object.

Auction History and Market Context

Because the painting entered public collection more than a century ago, it has not circulated in the auction market. However, similar Raphael workshop portraits—especially high-quality autograph works or those with secure Raphael attribution—tend to attract strong interest when they appear. Prices at auction have reflected the rarity of securely attributed Raphael portraits and the appeal of devotional or courtly representations from his pampering circle of assistants.

3. Critical Comparison with Two Contemporary Portraits

To better understand Portrait of a Young Woman, we compare it with two other contemporaneous works by Raphael:

A. La Fornarina (“Portrait of a Young Woman”) – Palazzo Barberini, Rome

• Attribution & Identity
  La Fornarina is believed to have been created around 1518–1519, possibly left unfinished at Raphael’s death, and completed by Giulio Romano. Tradition identifies the sitter as Margherita Luti (“the baker’s daughter”)—Raphael’s presumed lover—though this has never been confirmed. 

• Composition and Iconography
  This larger painting (≈60 × 85 cm) depicts a half-length nude or semi-nude young woman, with a sheer garment and an armlet inscribed “Raphael Urbinas.” Her hand rests near, or covers, her breast, a gesture layered with intimacy and modesty. A veiled head, luminous flesh, and warm lighting create an atmosphere of sensual reserve. 

• Tone and Emotional Impact
  Compared to the Strasbourg portrait, La Fornarina is more intimate and sensual, with autobiographical undertones. The engagement with the viewer is direct and personal, contrasted with the more reserved dignity of the Strasbourg sitter.

B. Portrait of a Young Woman with Unicorn – Galleria Borghese, Rome

• Attribution & History
  Dated to c.1505–1506, this painting was long misattributed and overpainted, once transformed into Saint Catherine. Restoration in the 1930s uncovered a unicorn—symbol of purity—and earlier pentimenti revealing a dog—fidelity emblem. 

• Composition and Symbolic Layering
  The sitter cradles the unicorn tenderly, a subtle symbol of her chastity or bridehood. The background landscape, only revealed during restoration, echoes Leonardo’s sfumato atmospheres, situating the portrait within broader circulating motifs of the High Renaissance.

• Interpretative Contrast
  Unlike Portrait of a Young Woman, which is strictly secular and reserved, this portrait weaves symbolic narrative through animal iconography. The unicorn adds a courtly, allegorical dimension against Raphael’s refined naturalism.

Comparative Summary

Feature	Portrait of a Young Woman	La Fornarina	Young Woman with Unicorn
Scale	Small, intimate	Larger, sensual	Medium, symbolic
Emotional tone	Reserved dignity	Personal intimacy	Allegory of purity/fidelity
Authorship	Raphael + workshop (Romano)	Raphael + workshop	Raphael, restored to original form
Symbolism	Minimal	Possibly autobiographical	Unicorn/dog symbolism uncovered
Background handling	Dark, nondescript	Possibly more luminous or landscape	Leonardesque landscape revealed

4. Why Portrait of a Young Woman Endures 

Portrait of a Young Woman
Raphael, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

Artistic and Historical Significance

This portrait exemplifies Raphael’s late style—poised, refined, and subtly animated. The collaborative process with Giulio Romano underscores workshop practice in late Renaissance studios, where master design and assistant execution converged. 

Beneath its modest scale lies a masterclass in portraiture—economy of means, psychological depth, and technical finesse.

Educational and Curatorial Value

As part of a museum collection, the painting functions as a teaching piece—about attribution, workshop dynamics, and evolving portrait conventions. Its secure provenance since 1890 allows for uninterrupted scholarly study, making it an important anchor in Raphael scholarship.

Audience Appeal and Cultural Relevance

The sitter’s anonymity enhances viewer projection; she represents an idealized Renaissance woman—graceful, calm, and restrained. Unlike more flamboyant portraits, her presence invites quiet reflection, making the work enduringly attractive in both academic and public contexts.

Concluding Thoughts 

Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Woman is a refined distillation of early 16th-century portrait art—a synergy of hand and heart, studio and master, discreet symbolism and pure representation. 

Placed beside La Fornarina and the Portrait with Unicorn, its elegance is made more luminous. While La Fornarina speaks of passion and intimacy, and the Unicorn painting of purity and narrative layering, the Strasbourg portrait remains serene, dignified, and quietly powerful—a study in grace over spectacle. 

Its journey from private collection to public museum, and its embedded tales of attribution and collaboration, enrich its historical importance. Above all, the portrait endures as a testament to Raphael’s enduring genius: to reveal inner nobility through a measured, painterly gaze.

Sources (websites consulted)

• Wikipedia (Portrait of a Young Woman, Strasbourg)

• Wikipedia (La Muta)

• Wikipedia (La Fornarina)

• Artchive (La Fornarina biography)

• Artchive (Portrait with Unicorn History)

• WikiArt (La Fornarina analysis)

• Wikimedia Commons (image and info for Strasbourg portrait)