This unidentified woman wears a costume dating from the second half of the 1560s or early 1570s. Her feathered jewelled hat is influenced by fashion in Lombardy and Venice, and her costume resembles that in a portrait drawing of a similar date attributed to Sofonisba Anguissola (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden). The portrait has previously been thought to be by Giuseppe Salviati or Niccolò dell’Abate.

   The lady wears a gold crucifix on a triple chain around her neck and a gold pendant hanging from a black ribbon. The figure in silhouette on her pendant holds a tall object that resembles a distaff, used in spinning. The distaff is the symbol of Nona, the Roman goddess of pregnancy and the spinner of the thread of life. Pregnant women called upon her when their baby was due to be born; the young lady may be pregnant and wearing the pendant as a charm.

百度翻译：http://fanyi.baidu.com

   This unidentified woman wears a costume dating from the second half of the 1560s or early 1570s. Her feathered jewelled hat is influenced by fashion in Lombardy and Venice, and her costume resembles that in a portrait drawing of a similar date attributed to Sofonisba Anguissola (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden). The portrait has previously been thought to be by Salviati or Niccolò dell’Abate.

   The lady wears a gold crucifix on a triple chain around her neck and a gold pendant hanging from a black ribbon. The figure in silhouette on her pendant – seemingly a kneeling woman holding a tall object that resembles a distaff, used for spinning – may give us a clue to her identity. It may be intended to express the sitter’s household industry or possibly refer to her name. The distaff is also the symbol of Nona, the Roman goddess of pregnancy and the spinner of the thread of life, which she spun from her distaff onto her spindle. Pregnant women called upon her in their ninth month when their baby was due to be born; the young lady may be pregnant and wearing the pendant as a charm.

 

百度翻译：http://fanyi.baidu.com