Francesca Visconti (Painting)

A tall female human figure stares out from this painting, her long black hair loose around her face in long, ebony waves. Her features are gaunt, and pale, her lips compressed into a solemn, serious line, but with the hint of fangs pointing through.

A dark cloak covers her shoulders, lined with red and set off against one shoulder with a diamond shaped broach. She has puffed sleeves and her outfit is of tans and grey with a few accents of white. Her shins have metal plates on them, and a belt is slung about her hips, with the pouch off centre, adorned with vials. In one hand she wields a staff, with a glowing red crystal atop it and in the other a club, with a glimmering blue crystal.

She stands tall, facing out from the picture, and her unblinking gaze staring out, her eyes seeming to match, and even follow the viewer. Behind her is a mass of shadowy, only vaguely distinguishable figures in black and brown, only their eyes painted with any detail, all gazing out, all watching, all staring.

Each eye seems to follow you as you move around the room. Once looked at, it’s hard not to look back at the picture, to see if those eyes- especially Francesca’s, still follow, creating an ever present feeling of unease and paranoia.

At the bottom right of the picture, very small, is a tiny black rams head, in profile, with ‘A.S.’ beneath it.