Funny mistake

[frualeydis]

I was browsing through Sotheby's recent catalogue and found this portrait from 1596 (you have to register to view it) by Lorenz Strauch. In the description it is listed as a portrait of a young gentleman, but I'm quite sure young men didn't wear braids in the 16th century. The cap is also a woman's cap. The final proof that it is a woman and not a man is however the inscription "Aetatis suae 25". Suae is the feminine form.

Edited: It has been pointed out that suae reflects the genus of aetas and not of the sitter. It's grammatically weird, but latin is weird in many ways. My grammar knowledge apparently isn't what it should be. But to be fair;I haven't studied latin since 1987. I use it quite a lot in my research, but I just read it, I don't construct sentences. It still is a portrait of a woman though.

Comments

[myladyswardrobe.livejournal.com]

That is most certainly a girl! There's a distinctive curve to the bodice (doublet style) which shows a bust line, there is a ribbon in the hair (hair taping?) and the necklace seems to be worn in the feminine way but this is the very least evidence.

The clincher is certainly the latin inscription. I am very surprised that Sotheby's haven't picked that one up!

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

It was actully the gold necklace that made me look at it twice. Then I saw the braid with the ribbon and the bust line. The inscription came last.

Eva