{"id":3364,"date":"2012-10-23T16:17:28","date_gmt":"2012-10-23T14:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=3364"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:14:20","slug":"art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael","title":{"rendered":"Italy&#8217;s Most Mysterious Paintings: Raphael&#8217;s La Fornarina"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Between the constant debates over who the\u00a0<em>Mona Lisa<\/em>\u00a0really was, and Dan Brown&#8217;s &#8220;decoding&#8221; of the <em>Last Supper<\/em>, you might think that Leonardo da Vinci is the only Italian artist hiding some serious secrets. Far from it! There are dozens of works of art in Italy that are as mysterious as they are beautiful. Just take\u00a0<strong><em>La<\/em> Fornarina by Raphael. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a Renaissance portrait that&#8217;s not only sensual&#8230; it&#8217;s hiding some serious surprises.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2851\" style=\"width: 418px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2851\" class=\"wp-image-2851 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/408px-Fornarina.jpeg\" alt=\"La Fornarina, a portrait by Raphael, shows a semi naked young women with her breasts exposed and her right hand across her chest, holding a piece of cloth below her breasts.\" width=\"408\" height=\"599\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2851\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raphael&#8217;s famed portrait, La Fornarina, which is surrounded by mystery!<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#La_Fornarina_Facts\" >La Fornarina Facts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#Who_was_La_Fornarina\" >Who was La Fornarina?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#Clues_discovered_during_restoration\" >Clues discovered during restoration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#Finishing_touches_and_cover-ups\" >Finishing touches and cover-ups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_La_Fornarina\" >FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; La Fornarina<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#Where_can_I_see_La_Fornarina_today\" >Where can I see La Fornarina today?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#What_hidden_details_should_I_look_for_when_seeing_La_Fornarina_in_person\" >What hidden details should I look for when seeing La Fornarina in person?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/art-history-mystery-la-fornarina-raphael\/#Are_there_other_artworks_by_Raphael_that_feature_mystery_or_hidden_meanings\" >Are there other artworks by Raphael that feature mystery or hidden meanings?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"La_Fornarina_Facts\"><\/span>La Fornarina Facts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what we know about\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/borghese.gallery\/collection\/paintings\/la-fornarina.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">La Fornarina.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We know the work is Raphael&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>We know it was completed around 1520, the year of Raphael&#8217;s untimely death.<\/li>\n<li>And we know, of course, what it depicts: a lovely young woman, posing mostly nude, staring with a sweet, coy look at the viewer (and at the artist).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But the big mystery and million dollar question is&#8230; Who was she?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_was_La_Fornarina\"><\/span>Who was La Fornarina?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_3367\" style=\"width: 454px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/raphael.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3367\" class=\"wp-image-3367 size-full\" title=\"Raphael, painter of the mysterious La Fornarina\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/raphael.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3367\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The artist himself, Raphael\u00b4s life held many secrets and surprises.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Of course, we can&#8217;t be sure. But some clues have led art historians to think she was none other than Raphael&#8217;s own mistress. And (here&#8217;s where Dan Brown would really go crazy) his secret bride.<\/p>\n<p>To give some context, Raphael was a bit of a ladies&#8217; man. But one woman, it seems, really stole his heart. Nicknamed La<em> Fornarina,\u00a0<\/em>Margherita Luti, the daughter of a local baker, bewitched Raphael so much, the artist couldn&#8217;t concentrate on his commissioned work for Agostino Chigi\u2014so much so that Chigi finally allowed her to move into the palace with him!<\/p>\n<p>That the subject posed nude for Raphael is just one reason to think she might have been more than just a professional commission. Another hint: the fact that Raphael signed his name on the subject&#8217;s left armband, the arm connected to one&#8217;s heart. Or that her right hand is resting, gently, over her heart.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clues_discovered_during_restoration\"><\/span>Clues discovered during restoration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_3365\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/fornarina-ring.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3365\" class=\" wp-image-3365 size-full\" title=\"Wedding ring of La Fornarina\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/fornarina-ring.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"306\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3365\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Close-up of the ring, &#8220;discovered&#8221; on La Fornarina&#8217;s hand<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If this really is\u00a0<em>la Fornarina,\u00a0<\/em>then an even greater mystery was uncovered a few years ago\u2014literally. When the painting was cleaned and restored, something surprising turned up on the girl&#8217;s left hand: a wedding ring.<\/p>\n<p>Why did that give believers of the portrait&#8217;s identity as\u00a0<em>la Fornarina\u00a0<\/em>cause to gasp? Because while Raphael was going around with the baker&#8217;s daughter, he was engaged&#8230; to a cardinal&#8217;s niece. He never married the woman. But this, some say, might be the reason why: Turns out, he was already secretly married to\u00a0<em>la Fornarina!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finishing_touches_and_cover-ups\"><\/span>Finishing touches and cover-ups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>That he would have kept the marriage a secret would have made sense, given his engagement and his high social status\u2014and since he suddenly died at the age of 37, it&#8217;s equally plausible that a student of his would have rushed to cover up the ring, hoping to keep the marriage a secret for posterity. (It is, in fact, generally thought that the painting was found in Raphael&#8217;s studio when he died and that the &#8220;finishing touches,&#8221; including, perhaps, a cover-up, were added by his student, Giulio Romano, who then sold the painting).<\/p>\n<p>Of course, lots of art historians disagree. One running theory is that the woman isn&#8217;t a lover of Raphael, but Francesca Ardeasca, the wife of Agostini Chigi. That would explain the ring. But there&#8217;s no other portrait of Francesca in existence, so it&#8217;s impossible to prove.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22476\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22476\" class=\"wp-image-22476 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Borghese-Gallery-Tour-WEB-0029.jpg\" alt=\"Various people mulling about a large ornate room with statues in the Borghese Gallery.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Borghese-Gallery-Tour-WEB-0029.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Walks_Borghese-Gallery-Tour-WEB-0029-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22476\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Galleria Borghese will wow you with its collection of artefacts!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_La_Fornarina\"><\/span>FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; La Fornarina<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 data-start=\"123\" data-end=\"171\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_can_I_see_La_Fornarina_today\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"127\" data-end=\"169\">Where can I see La Fornarina today?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"439\"><em data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"186\">La Fornarina<\/em> currently hangs in <a href=\"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"206\" data-end=\"235\">Palazzo Barberini in Rome<\/strong><\/a>, where visitors can admire Raphael\u2019s work up close. An excellent copy is also displayed at <a href=\"https:\/\/galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"327\" data-end=\"348\">Galleria Borghese<\/strong><\/a>, making it accessible for those exploring different parts of the city\u2019s art collections.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"526\" data-end=\"612\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_hidden_details_should_I_look_for_when_seeing_La_Fornarina_in_person\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"610\">What hidden details should I look for when seeing La Fornarina in person?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"613\" data-end=\"954\">When viewing the painting, notice the subtle gestures: her right hand rests over her heart, and her left arm features Raphael\u2019s signature. Look closely at the armband and the expression in her eyes\u2014art historians argue that every detail may hold a secret, from personal symbols to clues about her identity and relationship with the artist.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"535\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_there_other_artworks_by_Raphael_that_feature_mystery_or_hidden_meanings\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"533\">Are there other artworks by Raphael that feature mystery or hidden meanings?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"536\" data-end=\"846\">Yes! Raphael often included symbolic elements and subtle clues in his paintings. For example, some of his Madonnas contain hidden gestures or objects that convey spiritual or personal significance. Art historians continue to study these details, revealing layers of meaning that go beyond the obvious beauty.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14336\" style=\"width: 1291px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14336\" class=\"wp-image-14336 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Lady-with-a-Unicorn-Raphael.jpg\" alt=\"Other works by Raphael include Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn\" width=\"1281\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Lady-with-a-Unicorn-Raphael.jpg 1281w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Lady-with-a-Unicorn-Raphael-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Lady-with-a-Unicorn-Raphael-1025x1536.jpg 1025w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1281px) 100vw, 1281px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-14336\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Other works by Raphael include Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><em>If you find the stories behind the art as fascinating as we do, join our fascinating <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/villa-borghese-gallery-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Borghese Gallery Tour. <\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Led by an expert guide, this immersive experience takes you through the gallery\u2019s most celebrated works, including a <strong data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"339\">close-up look at Raphael\u2019s La Fornarina<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll uncover more details regarding the intriguing mysteries behind iconic portraits and masterpieces, all while learning about the artists and historical context that make the Borghese collection one of Rome\u2019s true treasures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Between the constant debates over who the\u00a0Mona Lisa\u00a0really was, and Dan Brown&#8217;s &#8220;decoding&#8221; of the Last Supper, you might think that Leonardo da Vinci is the only Italian artist hiding some serious secrets. Far from it! There are dozens of works of art in Italy that are as mysterious as they are beautiful. Just take\u00a0La [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[68,69],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-3364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-culture","tag-art","tag-history"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3364"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24243,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3364\/revisions\/24243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3364"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}