Flora

Title: Flora

Artist: Rosalba Carriera

Country: Venezia

Date: 1730s

Present location: Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Rosalba Carriera became very well-known throughout Europe, moreso in Paris, for her constructive use of pastels in her paintings. This portrait is done in pastels on paper and brings about a certain haziness or lightness to the portrait. The colors are subtle and not too overpowering. The background is somewhat dark, except for the main light source hitting the middle of it. The clothing she is wearing is very feminine, almost appearing sheer in some angles. Her hair is toussled and not done up fancy, however, the flowers in her hair add more femininity and delicacy to this person. Her skin is pale, yet flawless; almost angelic. Her gaze is focused on the spectator. The way her dress is drawn open offers us a sense of eroticism and although you cannot see her stance, she appears calm and comfortable in her own skin, which offers us as the spectators a thought of more freedom than the typical woman of this time period. This portrait is clearly about the subject of the patient and soley the subject, nothing or nobody else. It idealizes her as a strong, yet comfortable woman, who is daring enough to not only expose herself, but be painted as a subject exposing herself as well.