The gorgeous painting that goes with the article. I don't think it is medieval. The artist has dotted-in little highlights everywhere. The painting seems to be all about highlights. Medieval artists didn’t do that.

Maybe Renaissance?

Update: I looked it up. It is given as “circa 1600” — which is very very late for the Renaissance. The artist is unknown but thought to be “Emilian School”. The painting is called “Portrait of a Lady, Head and Shoulders, Wearing a Necklace and Pearls in her Hair” and it was sold at Sothebys for a very affordable 6.25 grand. http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2013/old-master-and-19th-century-paintings-n08953/lot.459.html

I wonder if it is genuine?