18th Century Pastel - Portrait of a Lady

Description

A delicate pastel portrait of a lady, elegantly dressed in a pink gown with a rose adorning her hair. She raises her hand to her face in a gesture that conveys grace and refinement. The work is beautifully presented in a gilt frame with an oval mount. Unsigned. On paper.

Condition

Tear to the upper right. Discolouration and slight warping to the paper. Marks and scuffs to the frame.

Size

29 x 23cm (11.4" x 9.1")
Framed Size: 47 x 40cm (18.5" x 15.7")

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.