
Read the visual description
The image depicts a person standing in profile, facing left. The person has one arm bent upward holding a large round object and the other arm hanging by their side. The facial features are detailed, with a straight nose and a serene expression. The hair is intricately styled, braided, and piled on top of the head. The person is dressed in a flowing garment that wraps around their body, exposing one shoulder and partially flowing around the feet. The garment has soft, curving lines suggesting movement. The person has large wings extending from their back. The background has closely drawn parallel lines.
National Gallery of Art · Print
Allegorical Figure Holding a Sphere
Giorgio Ghisi possibly after Giulio Romano
- Date
- mid 1560s
- Medium
- engraving on laid paper
- Dimensions
- sheet: 23.5 x 12.8 cm (9 1/4 x 5 1/16 in.)
- Classification
- Accession number
- 1964.8.1033
- Credit line
- Rosenwald Collection
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CG-E
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- figure
- engraving
- Costume
- Female figure
Inscription
lower left in plate: GMF (in monogram); center verso, in graphite: G. Ghisi B XX 399 34 Victory L a/c N 38
NGA object ID 48182. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.