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A fine pastel portrait of a lady wearing an elaborate lace bonnet. Well presented in an antique gilt frame. Unsigned. On paper.
Condition
Overall the condition is good for a picture of this age. Two tears to the lefthand edge. Discolouration. Marks and scuffs to the frame.
Size
55 x 46.5cm (21.7" x 18.3")Framed Size: 67 x 59cm (26.4" x 23.2")
Collection Information
Pastels enjoyed a surge in popularity in eighteenth-century Europe, becoming, for a time, the medium of choice for portraiture. The medium was appreciated for both its practicality and aesthetic qualities. Unlike oil painting, which required cumbersome equipment, multiple sittings, and lengthy drying times, pastels were portable, non-yellowing, and did not require drying time, thereby reducing the number of sittings needed. Their visual qualities, such as their stylistic diversity, naturalism, and strength of colour, also made them ideal for portraiture. The brilliant powdery surface that pastels produce reflects the light and enhances the complexion of the sitter. Although initially used for smaller works, innovations in glass manufacturing allowed for pastels to be executed on the same scale as oils. The costly process of making glass also made pastels a luxurious item, and therefore a means of showing the owner’s wealth and prestige.
