Dama col mazzolino (Italian for “Woman with Flowers”), also known as Gentildonna dalle belle mani (“Gentlewoman with Beautiful Hands”), is a marble sculpture created by the Florentine artist Andrea del Verrocchio between 1475 and 1480. The work measures approximately 60 cm (24 in) in height and is currently exhibited in the Bargello Museum in Florence, Italy.
Description
The sculpture depicts a half‑length female figure rendered with a high degree of naturalism. Unlike many contemporary busts, Verrocchio’s piece includes fully modelled arms and hands, the latter resting on the chest and holding a small bouquet of flowers (the “mazzolino”). The treatment of the hands is considered particularly innovative for its time, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of anatomy and gesture.
Historical Context and Attribution
The work is universally attributed to Andrea del Verrocchio, a leading sculptor and goldsmith of the Italian Renaissance who also taught notable artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. While the sculpture’s subject remains unidentified, scholars have proposed several possibilities, including:
- Fioretta Gorini, known as the mistress of Giuliano de’ Medici.
- Lucrezia Donati, the platonic love of Lorenzo il Magnifico.
- Ginevra d’Amerigo Benci, a Florentine noblewoman also portrayed in a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.
These identifications are based on stylistic comparisons and documentary evidence, but none have been conclusively proven.
Artistic Significance
Dama col mazzolino is notable for its departure from the traditional bust format, extending the figure to the hips and incorporating expressive arms and hands. This compositional choice anticipates later developments in Renaissance sculpture that emphasize three‑dimensional presence and narrative gesture. The piece also influenced Leonardo da Vinci’s own studies of the hand, as documented in his notebooks.
Provenance
Since the 19th century the sculpture has been part of the permanent collection of the Bargello Museum, where it is displayed among other masterpieces of early Renaissance art.
References
- Wikipedia contributors, “Dama col mazzolino,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, accessed April 2026.
- Fossi, Gloria; Bussagli, Marco (2004). L'arte italiana: pittura, scultura, architettura dalle origini a oggi. Giunti Editore.
- Touring Club Italiano (1999). Italy: A Complete Guide to 1,000 Towns and Cities and Their Landmarks. Touring Editore.
All information presented is based on verifiable scholarly and museum sources.