Why does this lady have a fly on her head? | 'Portrait of a Woman of the Hofer Family'

[@Checobeep]

It is a memento mori. The flowers are Forget-me-not which held a strong symbolism in Northern Europe and indeed elsewhere as a flower of both love and mourning. Flies swarm around dead things, a connection which nobody in the period would fail to make. Northern European painting, particularly Netherlandish and by extension German painting is heavy on symbolism. The fly lands on the beautiful chaperon or caul to remind the viewer that here, too, death will come to mar the beauty and undermine the pride in earthly things. Or something.

[@micreativeartsnosh9927]

I thought the same thing👍🙂

[@actixtube]

Agreed - it's obviously about the inevitability of death, even of somebody so well dressed and elegant.

[@idcook]

I find it interesting that there’s no suggestion of a stronger connection to Prince Albert and the queen. Perhaps a revered distant relative or beloved nanny? It seems unlikely that he would collect AND gift the painting as a lark. Then for the queen to gift it to 'the nation?' Did the want her to be gazed upon by all for an eternity? To be given a place virtually equal to their own? All of those suggests a very strong personal connection to the subject.

[@randomchipfat937]

Thankyou, beautifully put.

[@RocLobo358]

I also see "born last name" in northern European records where the woman has come from a noble family which gives the husband additional land or title.

[@JoeGriffinsr]

I based a college thesis on this painting 40 years ago and am enlightened to see others share some of the same conclusions. Before the Age of the Internet, it was not the prevailing theory. You too can also solve the riddle. The answer is a few lines below. Consider the state of her lips, is it a smile or a smirk? The bottom ring on her right hand which the artist has made most prominent, is a puzzle piece. The Forget Me Not flower implies just that. Look carefully at her hands and fingernails. Answer: She is dead. By my fading memory of a Thesis 40 years ago - From her name, attire, and the garnet stone on her ring, we can surmise that she was an Ashkenazi Jew of the Hofner financial family, age - mid to late thirties and born in the month of January sometime in the 13th Century. Pinky rings symbolized nobility at the time and titles were sometimes granted to bankers, presumably and especially some members of the Hofner family who greatly financed the formation of early Germany. Having three titles, she would have had considerable wealth, social connections and influence, and likely commissioned the painting herself while nearing death.

[@a27680]

I was thinking the exact same thing about her, after looking at her fingernails. A bit dirty. For someone so beautifully and immaculately dressed and groomed, that's unusual. The fly cleared the doubt; it came chasing the stench of the slowly rotting dead body!

[@jj1106]

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing

[@biancanapoles1725]

If she was born in the 13th Century that would mean she was born in the 1200's. So someone commissioned a painting, in the 1470's, of a woman who had been dead at least 160+ years before?

[@sherrillsturm7240]

Revisiting this vid after a long time, I agree with the idea this is a memorial painting. A person of such high standing would not have dirty and rough fingernails, especially for a portrait sitting. When you think of it, how is the headdress held up if she is vertical? But the giveaway is the fly, for obvious reasons. Her skin is extremely pale, as are her lips and eyes, also. Finally, "Forget-me-nots", signal this is a remembrance. The rate of childbirth death is extremely high due to unsanitary conditions, and her youth suggests perhaps pregnancy or childbirth caused her death.

[@MarciRaney-tt8ev]

Thank you . Fascinating

[@Marinaviatkina]

A fly in a picture is usually either a joke (a type of trompe l'oeil to trick the viewer, just as mentioned in the video), or an indication that the sitter has already passed away and it is a remebrance piece. Every details matters in old master art, so, in connection with the forget-me-nots in her hand here, it may well be a post-humous portrait.

[@CherriesJubilee]

This was my thought too.

[@johanlindeberg7304]

Yes, I believe the fly is there so that her husband would accept her death, and the painting was made so he would never forget her. And her painting was probably made when she was already dead. The headdress suggests that she is lying down. It is probably there to keep the flies away, is my guess. There are other such images, photographs from the 19th century, that were taken with deceased and living, arranged together.

[@georgoussnowsaintfullysinn9975]

Thats great obviously i must be dead. Thanks so much. Who said that? Ghost in the machine.... Ooooowwwwooooooowwwoooo

[@neuroticnation144]

Thank you for filling in the picture for us! It actually makes a lot of sense, and is a charming ( albeit morbid ) story.

[@T-aka-T]

Or perhaps they are Mike Pence. 😏

[@langolier9]

I’m normally not that impressed with very old paintings but wow I’ve got to say I’m pretty impressed by this one you made it real for me

[@lizvillegas6603]

What a fascinating subject and what an engaging speaker! In just a few minutes she managed to share such an appreciation for all the tiny details in the painting, and the context. Glad I stumbled upon this.

[@Greyseabee]

I love her enthusiasm the way she described the details it’s just wonderful to see someone so passionate about her work preserving and sharing history with all of us

[@lpanayi6954]

Also, the fly is somewhat too large to be IN the painting- compared to the woman- but it's the correct size to look as if it's ON the painting.

[@willmyles1285]

And she has not been forgotten...😊

[@oxford17]

I saw this painting in person. All I know is that the fly made me smile.

[@seir323]

I love the amount of mirth our guide to this portrait has in describing this clever joke on the viewer. I originally thought it was a memeto-mori kind of thing, either a commentary from the artist, or the sitter/commissioner to show themselves as humble. BUT! The thing that sticks out to me is that the fly isn't drawn to the scale of the sitter- it's drawn to the scale of us, the viewer, and the painting as an object! The shadows it casts are also like on the flat surface of the painting, and not her headdress. This definitely is some great trompe l'oeil, hadn't even thought of how it could be bragging rights of the artist, or of the family having it in their home, that they could have a painting done with such skill and realism. I like to think it was a cheeky joke that they knew was doing double-duty, and would age well - while alive, she could delight in having people fret, thinking there was a fly there, while also encouraging them to marvel at the realism, and once she died, it would serve as a memorial for this moment captured in time.

[@johannfer7073]

Bro this is the best and most shocking observation so far

[@RoySATX]

Whether the painting was commissioned as a remembrance of her or by her, the result is a success. I won't soon forget her.

[@aaaaaaaaaaaa808]

Very well narated, felt like going back 20 years and being a student once again. Thank you.

[@bjfitzpatrick671]

I believe the artist to be Albrecht Durer. It bears a strong resemblance to his portrait of Barbara Durer. which was his mother. Her maiden name was Holfer. As mentioned prior in this thread, the fly and Forget-Me--Nots would point to a rememberance painting of his mother.

[@samsmom1491]

I am going to respectfully disagree with you on the artist. There is a lack of depth and character, an absence of natural variations of color and shadow to the face that is apparent in AD's work.

[@MarinaAleyeva]

Durer was born in 1471.

[@gerardjagroo]

It really does look like Dürer.

[@neilmackenzie4394]

I was once in the national gallery and walked into a room and saw an elderly gentleman looking into the room through a small window. My mistake, it was a portrait of a Dutch gentleman by Rembrandt. I was fooled momentarily by the excellent wet reflection that the artist had painted in the gentleman's eyes.

[@kategleason6481]

I saw this when I visited the gallery 45 years ago. It blew me away. I'm so happy to find this video!

[@ValeriePallaoro]

I clicked on it thinking it was going to be a lecture on death and mortality. Not so; we get a story of artist as rock god, artist at the top of his game, artist in charge, artist of eminence, artist so expensive and understood, he gets to play a joke on the viewer and the portrait owners friends and family. And the sitter just loves that he does that. What a brilliant explanation. Well curated and well understood. This changes everything. Very smartly done. Much appreciated.

[@artforartssake1181]

commissioned by her father after her early death to forget her not. The fly represents decay but also the fleeting moment it rests on her headdress reflects our fleeting lives

[@teresanferreira]

So grateful to the National Gallery for these on line art " lessons".Thank you so much!

[@sherrymorris5564]

Oh to be gifted in this way! To be able to capture everything that is in this painting would be incredible. Too, the fly draws attention to the painting. It does not escape anybody who enters the room.

[@ericabassi7728]

I'm surprised you didn't also mention that she is resting her hand on the picture frame. Thats more interesting to me than the fly.

[@cavanmeehan2286]

I could listen to the young lady for hours. Thank you. Going to find more of these.

[@goldfish7438]

Make more of these short and educational videos, please. I couldn’t stop watching this one!

[@SusanAnnSchmaeling]

Kudos to Francesca WC for sharing her informed viewpoint so charmingly. Solid scholarship.

[@fartsimpson8610]

Let me just say that this artist is incredible. Your close-ups of the canvas reveal amazing detail. Even the fly looks real!!

[@MicaFarrierRheayan]

What a fascinating masterpiece. She is eloquent and I love her mysterious/whimsical vibes when explaining. It was so engaging

[@rainday6]

Ms. Whitlum-Cooper is the real star here -- her passion and excitement and humor shine and make this a delightful vignette into 15th C. life and art.

[@BarneyThisBarneyThat]

i also believe she's already passed before this painting. the way her white fabric is depicted looks like it is laying flat as she is lying down. plus the color of her fingernails & the forget me nots. plus, of course, the fly. i think it is beautiful.

[@createone100]

What a lovely presentation!! Gosh, I could listen to this knowledgeable speaker for hours. Such a sweet relief from the truly appalling narrative voices on most KZbin videos. Thank you!

[@KK-eh2gm]

The best Docent/Art Expert & explanation ever. I hope to see this when I am London next. Thank you

[@chairde]

I’m impressed with the details. Not only of the fly but it’s shadow too.

[@LoantakaBrook]

Art history classes were my favorite! Thanks for remaining true to your craft as an art historian. 🥰

[@Istrice963]

I love the way you present it Ms….that is lovely ❤

[@Fg4e]

Traditionally if a fly is painted near a person, or a even more so, near a person's head it is a harbinger of death. And with the Forget-me-not flowers, means she wishes not to be forgotten after her death.

[@_DREBBEL_]

I’m just blown away with that painting. I mean WOW.

[@Ponyboy_Curtis]

That was amazing! I can’t say I understand visual art very much, but I feel learned so much.

[@karenmilford7809]

I think this adds so much intrigue to this painting. They knew what they were doing. No one would pay a fraction of attention to this painting (as fantastic as it is!) if that fly weren't there. It makes you wonder, and this very picture sparked an interest in art I didn't have before. Amazing!!!

[@aubreyheartburn]

I'd love to visit an art gallery with this lady, so she could point out details, and come up with theories, that I hadn't even noticed/thought about.

[@udaykulkarni8989]

Very nice painting ever I have seen.

[@bubbercakes528]

These are my favorite kind of paintings. The works done by masters who bring there pictures to life.

[@howardkeller1137]

Such a pleasantly civilized discussion here. It is so soothing to know that there are still people who live, and value art as such. Pure and wonderful. Thank you for opportunity to read how old is engaging Cummins here.

[@jamesclapp6832]

I get the impression this young woman has been recently widowed. The black dress, the white hat (like a nun), the bittersweet expression, the forget-me-nots and the fly all convey a sense of transience of existence.

[@bialek.online]

i like drawing, painting realistic and I too get rewarded by spotting every little detail of artist's meticulous work :)

[@mrpurple11]

This was such a cute interesting video. I was expecting some king of history about flys on paintings but ended up appreciating the act of looking closer and to give it time for a painting to show me what it has to offer

[@cwavt8849]

I loved this video. Thank you for sharing all the understanding of paintings to bring the masterpiece to life

[@cristinadasilva9519]

Thank you to the National Gallery for those fantastic presentations. Next time I come and visit I'll stop by the paintings with a better view. Excellent job.

[@robinholbrook6576]

Bravo to our docent! Takes a painting apart and puts it back together so gently and lovingly! THANK YOU! PLEASE DO MORE!!!!

[@hscott68]

that was the most interesting 10mins I've had in a very long time! really very interesting and engaging

[@kathleenyes-cp2uf]

I remember coming across this painting as a young person visiting the museum. It made me so excited and happy. I was so thrilled to see this video. Thank you!

[@alexkalish8288]

My absolute favorite place in the world is the national gallery in London. I spent many hours of my youth in that museum absorbing British history and superb art.

[@janesawyer3495]

Was it added in later? I couldn't help but notice that the fly doesn't have the same age cracks in the paint, and there are some white strokes just beneath it that seem to be over the cracks.

[@dungeaterfancam]

It’s kinda cool how the fly kinda completes the painting in a sense. Without it it would just be a really good painting of a lady, but still just a painting. But with the fly it becomes so unique. Same with Mona Lisa, if her expression was clear it would still be a great painting but a single detail causes so much discussion

[@johnlomax2502]

What a wonderfully, passionate presenter. She truly understands the depths of these great works of art. 🙏

[@Chihiro33333]

In ancient Egypt the fly was associated with rebirth and the afterlife. Together with the Forget Me Nots I’d interpret this painting as a memorial portrait.

[@cpm9747]

Totally different theory. This woman posed for her portrait for days or weeks. As it neared completion, she fell ill or suffered an injury or accident. In short, she died. The forget-me-not, the fly, both symbols that can be associated with death.

[@pcbif]

What a wonderful story. I love the way you have analyzed the painting and that peculiar fly. Thanks for posting.

[@vincenzobuonocore8931]

Francesca, you are an incredible detective of the telling details that will shed light on the tantalizing ‘silence’ of a painting, and you help us interact with it and make us want to find out more. Brava come sempre!

[@RealSalica]

Really good presentation , I love how open her interpretation is . Not giving a strong opinion in the way she could have wanted us to think as many art historian tend to do . I hope she will talk about more paintings in the future on your YT channel . Thank you .

[@BunnyKramer]

I have a different thought that I haven't seen expressed here. Clearly the artist put considerable skill and time into this painting. I imagine s/he was incrementally paid along the way as I believe that was a common way. What if, nearing completion, the artist learned that the final payment wasn't going to be forthcoming for some reason? Surely they would be angry but certainly would not want to deface their beautiful painting. What frustration! How to demonstrate their anger at being cheated? Add a fly.

[@charlesedwardandrewlincoln8181]

I absolutely loved this video! I think this is one of the beauties of the Internet is that we can experience beautiful art and view it from any place in the world and also listen to lectures of people discussing it in detail. Plus we can get close-ups on those details. Thank you so much!

[@wendylow5748]

I find her voice very soothing and getting to learn so much is a huge plus! Lovely video.

[@argentpuck]

I'm mostly interested in what the headdress is supposed to be. Does anyone happen to know? It's a truly bizarre shape that I have to assume was painted accurately given how detailed the whole piece is, including the rather realistic fly.

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Such a wonderful video! I love the idea that she had an offbeat sense of humor and wanted to trick the people who would see her painting. Thank you for sharing her with us

[@annw.3133]

Thank you for this beautiful presentation of what art portrays.

[@bonnielucas153]

Thank you for the art history lesson. The skill was truly spectacular with so many of those painters long ago

[@jillychandler]

This was extremely interesting, and Francesca, you made it so interesting to hear about why there is a fly on her head. Thank you for this vid. xxx

[@favouritemoon4133]

This was a really great talk by Francesca. That painting is absolutely incredible. It's pretty wild that no one knows who the artist is!

[@soberhippie]

I used to draw flies on desks at school, and I got so good at it, people tried to shoo them away or smash them. That and a portrait from a banknote. I could never draw anything else.

[@seanreed69]

The sitter has passed and the fly signifies death.

[@devonyoung3664]

It seems pretty obvious to me that reason for the fly is that she is dead and it's a memorial portrait hence the forget-me-nots

[@michaelrichardson830]

I look at this picture and think what a craftsman you need to be and what talent you need to have to write it!

[@redbrick9634]

It seems to me that the fly received the best of the artist's attention. It is marvelously detailed.

[@elisabethlooijschelder4974]

What a wonderful fresh presentation. What a beautiful painting, so refined in skill and expression. The trompe- l’œil of the fly for sure reminds us of our fragile earthly existence. How witty!

[@stevendaly110]

Thank you! Fascinating! Lots of comments below about the symbolism of the fly. I love Francesca's take on it, and I also think the fly to likely be a comment on morality. But a point that I don't think has been made yet is that, aesthetically, the painting seems to need something in that spot. Blot the fly out with your thumb, or something, and the composition just doesn't work so well. It's unbalanced. And there's a sea of white that might have just looked like a sea of white--instead of white cloth--without something there to fix the eye a focal point. I'd be interested to see if anyone agrees with me.

[@manthasagittarius1]

I like this thinking. See if you find the fly making a third point of a triangle, for example, with her eyes and mouth. Or just a focal point. You remind me of the story told of JMW Turner, who discovered that someone had pasted a small animal onto one of his great luminous paintings on a crucial focal point, even as it was hanging in a gallery; and when he found it, he merely moved it a bit, and then touched it with black paint and let it stand. This might well be an additional purpose for the fly in this portrait, together with any symbolism that was intended.

[@christineherbes-sommers3912]

I watched this over morning coffee. What a lovely way to start the day -- with beauty, mischief and such a wonderful presentation!

[@nationalgallery]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@luminair11]

How interesting and anyway, I feel that portrait of the fly is impressively executed!

[@susan1302]

What a wonderful presenter! Thank you so much - I would never have guessed that all of that information could be derived from what appears to be a simple portrait. So enlightening and made me want to learn more.

[@MadsterMadness]

Gosh, I could listen to her talk all day! Passionate and informative. Great video!

[@FrankieJazzFox]

Is there a way to verify if the fly is contemporary with the original painting, or possibly added later?

[@christineingram55]

Fascinating.I had guessed that.I put spiders or ladybirds on mine sometimes ..Beautifully painted and it looks like the artist had a great rapport with the sitter to be able to do this much detail too.It a really great composition too .

[@biolameieri]

Absolutely wonderful presentation, could listen to her talk about art for hours!

[@historyunderfootnyc]

Flies can also be a symbol of time to move elsewhere. When fly season starts in late spring, it's good to move location to a "better place" away from the pests. Perhaps it's a message, along with the sprig of forget-me-not, that she moved on from life to a better place when in "late spring" of her youth. Or, she is remembering someone else who did.

[@MyNameHere101]

Between the fly and the forget me nots, I believe she has passed and that's why this painting was commissioned

[@6723svc]

Thank you Francesca! The whole deal was beautifully explained...

[@TalentedDilittante]

Thank you, Francesca! I'm an artist, and what you say makes sense to me.

[@abigailmaley2845]

I just happened across this video and LOVE it! Looking forward to digging further into your videos to see what more I can learn!

[@The_Sunny_One]

There’s nothing I hated as much as when I had to do a semester studying art history and technic but somehow this was genuinely interesting

[@markbusa5325]

That was one of the best descriptions of a painting I've ever heard. Interesting and compelling. Thank you for this video! And after reading all the comments, I wish we could know the artist's true intention. But I suppose good art makes you think without telling you what to think

[@buffster948]

What a fantastic introduction to this fascinating piece. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us, Ms. Whitlum-Cooper.

[@PleasantPrickles]

Could it just be a skillful artist showing off the great detail he or she is able to achieve? It’s a lovely piece, indeed.🪰

[@marloweirvine6740]

I think the explanation I like best is the one suggested by Ms. Whitlum-Cooper. The fly is not to scale with the portrait but with the observer's world. It is an inside joke shared by the painter and the person who commissioned it.

[@PJZZZZ]

I could listen to this woman talk about art all day so soothing

[@levenscott645]

I agree with what you say. At the same time, I note that the fly is positioned diagonally across from the forget-me-nots, and I wonder whether the artist has in mind an implicit commentary? The fly, by its nature, is flighty, here now gone in an instant. The forget-me-nots speak to a desire to combat transience (do not forget me, oh, my darling, as the song goes). The inclusion of the fly certainly is a trick of verisimilitude, as you suggest, but it also carries a message about impermanence and reinforces the import of the flowers.

[@weeveferrelaine6973]

The talk about the fly is at 6:58 The preceding portion of the video is about the painting subject's status, and who they likely were, as well as how the painter is a mystery.

[@kirktucker7360]

Fascinating I will ponder long on the fly and why. Thank you Francesca beautifully described and it is plain to see your love for this paintiing.

[@deborahhenderson149]

Your description is marvellous and enlightening. You are absolutely correct in that the painting and others you mentioned capture so much reality. How talented to be able to 'trick' people in the world of paint and wood using real people, insects, animals, fruit,flowers,plant life, furniture,jewelry, costume, landscapes scenery etc etc and make it appear so realistic. Thank you very much.

[@nationalgallery]

Thank you for watching, Deborah!

[@johnfaustus1]

Not sure why the video doesn't mention the following. This is a fairly common _trompe-l'oeil_ called _musca depicta_ (literally "painted fly"); such can be found on a few different well-known pieces, notably "Portrait of a Carthusian". It's purpose is largely as described in the video, to trick the viewer or be whimsical.

[@tanyapalmer4292]

Fascinating explanation. Really enjoyed it and learned a lot

[@thomaskalweit1358]

The fly could also be a Memento mori, a Vanitas symbol.

[@DawnOldham]

You held my interest the entire time you spoke about the woman with the fly on her head dress. Excellent presentation!

[@susantaylor5068]

Wonderful explanation- bringing this unknown lady to life 👏