English: Model is Alexa Wilding.

Rossetti originally called the picture Venus Veneta, and intended it to represent «a Venetian lady in a rich dress of white and gold, - in short the Venetian ideal of female beauty» (quoted in a letter dated 27 September 1866, Doughty & Wahl, II, p.606). After the picture was finished he changed the title to Monna Vanna, denoting a «vain woman», a name taken from Dante's Vita Nuova, which Rossetti had translated in October 1848. Rossetti considered the painting to be one of his best works and declared it «probably the most effective as a room decoration that I have ever painted».

In 1873 Rossetti retouched the picture, lightening the hair and altering the rings, which had been criticised for their clashing colours. He also changed the title to Belcolore, believing that the subject looked too modern for its previous title. Despite this, the painting continued to be known as Monna Vanna. It was first owned by the Cheshire collector W. Blackmore, who also owned Fazio's Mistress (Tate N03055), and later passed into the hands of George Rae of Birkenhead, one of Rossetti's most important patrons. (see references)