The subject of the painting is Cecilia Gallerani, a mistress of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. The work is one of only four portraits of women Leonardo da Vinci painted during his lifetime (including the Mona Lisa) but it is also special because of its hidden message; the ermine is thought to represent Sforza, who received the title Knight of the Order of the Ermine, while the creature may also reference purity. Da Vinci’s skill and artistic innovation were gaining momentum in the 1490s and Lady with an Ermine was considered modern for its time. The work is not only a celebration of female beauty – it highlights Gallerani’s individuality and focuses on her anatomical, physiognomic, and expressive features.