Attributed to an anonymous artist of the School of Fontainebleau (a term used to describe 16th-century artists associated with the French court), this painting was acquired by the Norton Simon in 1978 under the title Portrait of Diane de Poitiers (fig. 1). But appearances—and identifications—can be deceiving. Countless depictions of women by School of Fontainebleau artists have been described as representations of Diane de Poitiers, a dominant personality in 16th-century France, but such designations are often speculative. As we shall see, while historical and visual analyses distance this painting from an association with Diane, these methods fall short of supplying us with a positive identification of the represented figure. Technical analysis of the panel, specifically the use of X-radiography and Infrared Reflectography, reveals fascinating new evidence that unveils the figure’s identity. This exhibition animates the dynamic process of museum-based research, affording insight into the painting’s original appearance and opening up new avenues of interpretation.
Figure 1: School of Fontainebleau (French, 16th century), Portrait of Diane de Poitiers (?), c. 1550, oil on panel, 16-3/8 x 12-7/8 in. (41.6 x 32.7 cm), Norton Simon Art Foundation, from the Estate of Jennifer Jones Simon, M.2010.1.174.P