Sexy weasels in Renaissance art

In the 16th century, weasels were a catch-all category for many of the furry, long-bodied carnivorous creatures in the mustelid family, such as ermine, sables, martens, ferrets, stoats and mink. Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine (circa 1490) is the most famous Renaissance weasel painting. So including a weasel pelt in a woman’s portrait was also simply a way of indicating their high social-standing and successful financial position.

Source: ridiculouslyinteresting.com