Rosalba Giovanna Carriera was born on October 7, 1675, in Venice and developed an artistic talent early on. Initially, she devoted herself to portrait miniature painting, a genre popular in her time. However, it was her specialization in idealized pastel portraits that solidified her reputation and made her one of the most sought-after artists of the 18th century. With delicate color application, gentle transitions, and elegant lightness, she captured the taste of the Rococo in an unparalleled manner.
Carriera was a pioneer of pastel painting and significantly influenced its development. Her works were characterized by an airy, "powdery" aesthetic that was particularly appreciated in court portraiture. In 1705, she became one of the first women admitted to the prestigious Accademia di San Luca in Rome—a significant milestone at a time when female artists were still a rarity.
Her fame soon spread beyond Venice: Carriera was welcomed at the French and Austrian courts and created numerous portraits for nobles and members of the European high aristocracy. She found great recognition in Paris, where she portrayed members of the court of Louis XV, among others. Her works impressed not only with their technical perfection but also with their charming, pleasing expression, making her a true icon of the Rococo.
Despite her success, Rosalba Carriera increasingly withdrew from public life in her later years. She spent her final years in her hometown of Venice, where she passed away on April 15, 1757. Her artistic legacy lives on in numerous museums and collections, reminding us of one of the most significant portrait painters of the 18th century.
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