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Andrea del Verrocchio (1435 - 1488) Bust of a Young Woman, 15th century white marble 18 5/8 in. x 19 3/16 in. x 9 3/8 in. (47.31 cm x 48.74 cm x 23.81 cm) Bequest of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., 1961. Accession number: 1961.2.87 Not on View

Commentary: Although it is neither signed nor documented, the marble bust is convincingly attributed to Verrocchio through comparison with other works known to be by him.  Despite the coat of arms emblazoned on both her sleeves, the subject of the portrait has not been identified.  Unlike any of the earlier female figures in the Collection, whether saint, angel, or gentlewoman, this young lady decidedly belongs to the world she inhabits.  She is a person with claims to wealth and fashion.  Her elaborate coiffure of twists and ringlets is bound up with ribbons and rosettes.  The laced bodice and the floral-patterned tunic of brocade or cut-velvet, fastened with a foliate buckle, are all exquisitely detailed by the sculptor, who was noted for the precious clasps he made for copes.  She herself has a physical presence, a body delicately but visibly shaped beneath the rich clothing, and she seems to respond to some external presence sharing her space.  The slight tilt and twist of the head and her alert look suggest a mind actively engaged with its surroundings.


This sense of a fleeting moment captured -- the animation, both physical and spiritual -- is characteristic of Verrocchio's best-known sculpture, such as his David and the Putto Clutching a Dolphin, or the dramatic narrative of Christ and St. Thomas for the Orsanmichele, Florence.  More than any of his predecessors, Verrocchio could inspire his figures with an inner life, an achievement that his pupil Leonardo would explore with unmatched complexity and subtlety.

Source: Art in The Frick Collection: Paintings, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996.