In 1498 Leonardo Da Vinci painted one of his most well preserved paintings, The Lady with an Ermine. Leonardo painted the mistress of the Duke of Milan, Cecilia Gallerani, along with a symbolic animal, an Ermine, in her arms. The work is an oil painting done on a walnut wood panel. Many techniques are used in this painting, one of which the artist himself invented. Lady with an Ermine uses many techniques and symbols that are unique to Da Vinci and the Renaissance time period. One of the techniques used is Sfumato, which means “to transform into smoke,” Da Vinci himself invented this technique. Leonardo used this technique in Lady with an Ermine especially around her eyes and mouth to give her face a softer impression. Another technique used
