Elisabetta Sirani - Portrait of Signora Ortensia Leoni Cordini as Saint Dorothy Postcard

Nestled within the reinstated Joslyn Art Museum, Elisabetta Sirani’s Portrait of Signora Ortensia Leoni Cordini as Saint Dorothy (1661) commands attention as a luminous fusion of portraiture and hagiography. The work depicts a noblewoman—Ortensia Leoni Cordini—imbued with saintly poise, holding the customary basket of apples and roses, symbols associated with Saint Dorothy. Sirani boldly signed and dated the piece on the sitter’s neckline, staking a public claim to authorship at a time when few women were acknowledged as professional painters. 

Acquired by Joslyn in 2023 and prominently featured in the museum’s newly expanded galleries, this painting not only enriches the museum’s collection but also offers visitors a compelling narrative about gender, devotion, and artistic ambition in 17th-century Italy.

Postcard printed on cardstock.

Dimensions: 4.25" x 6"