The identity of the sitter, portrayed holding a letter next to a writing desk with an inkwell and pen, is unknown. The austere formatting and the compositive rigour belong to the portraiture type Fontana developed.
The painting is signed and dated: LAVINIA FONTANA DE / ZAPPIS FACIEBAT / MDLXXXIII. As was customary, Fontana linked her husband last name (Zappi) to her own.
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