A masterpiece of High Renaissance portraiture, this work depicts Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Leonardo broke traditional conventions by posing the subject in a dynamic three-quarter view, turning her head as if reacting to someone entering the room. The inclusion of the ermine—a symbol of purity and a pun on the subject's surname—showcases the artist's anatomical precision and his ability to capture complex psychological depth and fluid motion.