Giorgione's "Laura" 1506; courtsean or marriage portrait?

<Tab/>Giorgio da Castelfranco, c.1476-78 - 1510, better known as Giorgione, was a Venetian painter of the Italian High Renaissance. He lived a short life, passing away from the plague during his thirties, leaving behind a small, but beautiful compilation of compositions. One of his most famed works is Portrait of a Woman 1506 (Figure1.) also known as Laura. This painting has mystified art history scholars with its interpretation of the sitter's …

…The laurel's prominence is more likely associated with the sitter's trade and her literary achievements as a courtesan. Furthermore, visually Laura lacks the submissive demeanor and classic modesty expected of a Venetian wife. For Giorgione portrays a highly sexualized woman; the soft flesh of an exposed breast nestled in warm fur, and her enticing, relaxed composure in a state of undress is an unimaginable poise for a reputable woman. Giorgione's Laura is surely a courtesan.