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

[witandwisdome.livejournal.com]

It's fairly standard, I think (need to dig out my Latin Primer to check...) If written out in full, I imagine that it would be anno 25 aetatis suae ie in the 25th year of his age.
In the same way that a man has 'female' hands (manus suae), 'neuter' head (caput suum) and 'male' toes (digiti sui), so also a 'female' age (aetas sua)

[witandwisdome.livejournal.com]

which isn't much help in identifying the sex of the portrait...
Sorry

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

But, inscription or no, the portrait is clearly of a woman. I think the person who wrote it didn't look carefully and possibly wasn't familiar with dress styles in late 16th century souhtern Germany. That cap really is typical for a woman.

Eva

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Does make sense.
I haven't studied any latin for years. I read it a lot, but only imperfect medieval latin.

Eva