Lady with Opossum

This image was inspired by a DaVinci painting I saw some time ago titled "Lady with Ermine."

The subject of DaVinci’s painting was probably the Duke of Milan’s mistress, and the ermine represents chastity and cleanliness, as well as his coat of arms. She’s on a black background, which keeps the focus on the subject.

The subject of my drawing is a corseted Victorian/Elizabethan woman in black dresses holding an opossum. The opossum represents shallowness, deception, and dirtiness, having appeared also in old coats of arms (meaning “reserves his true strength). This is on a stylized landscape, as opposed to DaVinci's black background.
The landscape was intended to contrast with the somber attitude of the woman, and the apparent viciousness of the opossum.
This contrast symbolizes deception, and unpredictability.
The dead bush in the foreground suggests impending doom, and the opossum is reacting to this unseen danger.
The woman cradles the opossum, as if comforting it. Her face shows an expression of resignation.

Created in Illustrator CS and Photoshop CS2.