The portrait, as a pictorial genre, often had the function of celebrating the social status of the subject represented. In this canvas, a noblewoman, elegantly dressed, is depicted in half-length in a three-quarter pose; her face, turned towards the viewer, is framed by silver hair styled according to the fashion of the time and enriched by a precious jewel, a clear sign of her aristocratic status. The dark background, sober and devoid of decorative elements, concentrates attention on the illuminated face of the lady and the elegance of the dress she wears. The fineness of the stroke refers to the hand of Giovanni Maria Delle Piane, known as il Mulinaretto (Genoa, 1660 – Monticelli d'Ongina, 1745), a famous portrait painter of the Genoese aristocracy. A pupil of Giovanni Battista Gaulli, he stayed in Rome until 1684, the year of his return to Genoa. He was in great demand by important families such as the Doria, the Durazzo, and the Farnese; among his most famous portraits is that of the Doge of the Republic of Genoa, Francesco Maria Imperiale, an emblematic example of the influence exerted on his style by Hyacinthe Rigaud and other French portrait painters. Dimensions: canvas 96.5 x 71.5 cm This portrait not only celebrates the rank and refinement of the noblewoman but also represents a clear testimony to the artistic sensibility of Delle Piane, perfectly in tune with the aristocratic taste of his time.