Elisabetta Gonzaga by Raphael in Pushkin museum (2016) by shakko 02

The Duchess is depicted in a frontal, static pose against a minimalist landscape of rolling hills and distant water. She wears a square-necked black dress with gold-thread embroidery and a thin black cord around her forehead that holds a gold and enamel scorpion ornament. Her expression is serene and stoic, embodying the reserved dignity expected of a Renaissance noblewoman.

Elisabetta Gonzaga was the central figure and hostess in Baldassare Castiglione's 'The Book of the Courtier', a foundational text for Renaissance Neoplatonism and courtly behavior. The scorpion on her forehead is frequently interpreted as an astrological talisman (referencing the sign of Scorpio) or a protective amulet in the tradition of Renaissance natural magic.