Leonardo da Vinci's Portrait of Ginevra Benci Magnet

Portrait of Ginevra Benci (c. 1475) by Leonardo da Vinci is a vintage Renaissance Era fine art portrait. She was the sixteen year old daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker and the painting was likely commissioned to celebrate her engagement or wedding. The vast majority of female portraits were commissioned on one of two occasions, betrothal or marriage. Wedding portraits tend to be made in pairs, with the woman on the right side. Since Ginevra faces right, this portrait is more likely to have commemorated her engagement.