Raffaello, la gravida, 1506-07 ca. 02

The woman is depicted from the waist up against a dark, neutral background, wearing a red dress with black velvet bands and white puffed sleeves. Her left hand rests prominently on her swollen abdomen to signify her pregnancy, while her right hand holds a small object, possibly a book or gloves. She wears a mesh hairnet, a thin gold chain, and several rings on her fingers.

Created during Raphael's years in Florence, this work reflects the High Renaissance focus on the dignity of the human individual. While a secular portrait, Raphael's development was deeply informed by the Neoplatonic atmosphere of Florence, where the human form was viewed as a microcosm of divine order and beauty.