Anne Bill

Simon de Passe

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a portrait set within an ornate architectural structure. A bust of a woman is depicted within a circular frame or medallion, capturing her from the shoulders up. She has a calm expression with delicate facial features; her eyes look forward under a headpiece that fits closely around her head. Lace or decorative fabric lines the edge of this headpiece, and her hair is covered. Her clothing includes a high-collar garment, and there is a glimpse of a decorative piece, possibly lace, at her neck. Above the medallion, an angelic figure with wavy hair and downcast eyes leans over, hands resting near the edges of the frame. The angel's wings are visible beside its shoulders, and it wears flowing robes. Behind the angel, books and musical instruments sit atop the structure, accompanied by a billowing cloud with the name "ANNA" and a Latin inscription. To either side of the portrait, intricately carved pillars and designs frame the scene. The background reveals a bucolic landscape with trees, a distant church, and open sky.