Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister: Elegant Encounters. Rosalba Carriera

Pastellporträt einer Frau in hellem Kleid mit Blumensträußchen an der Brust

Rosalba Carriera – Perfection in Pastel

On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the birth of Rosalba Carriera (1673-1757), the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) is dedicating a special exhibition to the most famous pastel painter. More than 100 objects will be presented, including around 70 works by the portraitist, who was one of the first female artists to enjoy success throughout Europe.

Exhibition Site Zwinger

DATES 09/06/2023—24/09/2023

With 73 pastels, Dresden possesses the world's largest collection of the Venetian artist. Under August III, more than twice as many works by Carriera were in the gallery's holdings and in 1746 a separate pastel cabinet was even set up in the Johanneum near the Frauenkirche and named after her.

Pastel painting was still considered a comparatively young genre at the time. Carriera was instrumental in making this technique a valued form of painting. The many portraits of princes of the ruling dynasties of Europe show how much in demand the artist was. But she also captured literary figures, musicians and dancers from her home city of Venice in pictures; a visit to her was also part of the regular programme of the numerous travellers through Italy. Thus, portraits constitute the largest part of her oeuvre.

Porträt einer Frau mit schwarzem Dreispitz und Perlenschmuck — **Rosalba Carriera, Caterina Sagredo Barbarigo, um 1735/40** Pastell auf Papier 42 x 33 cm

Carriera's pastels bear witness to the beauty ideals of the Rococo period, whose cosmetics were dominated by powder: pale, even skin, powdered hair and wigs. The powdery surfaces of pastel painting reflect this fashion and thus bring us closer to this bygone era. In cooperation with the Theatre Design/Mask Design course at the Dresden University of Fine Arts, students are illustrating the maquillage of the 18th century in a project that will thus be brought to life in the exhibition.

Pastellporträt einer Frau in hellem Kleid mit Spitze und Hermelinbesatz, Diamanten und PErlen im Haar — **Rosalba Carriera, Maria Josepha, Gemahlin König Augusts III. von Polen, 1730** Pastell auf Papier 53,5 x 42,5 cm

Pastellporträt eines Jungen mit langen Locken und Bruststern sowie blauer Schärpe — **Rosalba Carriera, König Ludwig XV. von Frankreich, 1720/21** Pastell auf Papier 50,5 x 38,5 cm

Pastellporträt einer Frau in hellem Kleid mit Hermelinpelz — **Rosalba Carriera, Erzherzogin Maria Theresia von Habsburg, 1730** Pastell auf Papier 45 x 34,5 cm

Pastellporträt einer Frau in blauem Kleid — **Rosalba Carriera, Selbstbildnis als Winter, 1730/31** Pastell auf Papier 46,5 x 34 cm

AM P 146 Weiblicher Studienkopf in grauviolettem Mantel — **Rosalba Carriera, Weiblicher Studienkopf in grauviolettem Mantel** Pastell auf Papier 30 x 26 cm

Pastellporträt eines Mannes mit Lockenzopf und blauem Mantel — **Rosalba Carriera, Ein junger Herr in bauschigem blauen Mantel** Pastell auf Papier 56,5 x 46,5 cm

Pastellporträt eines Mannes in besticktem Samtrock — **Rosalba Carriera, Ein junger Herr in bräunlichem Samtrock mit Goldstickerei** Pastell auf Papier 56,5 x 44 cm

Carriera's artistic beginnings lay in miniature painting, as she had little competition to fear from male painter colleagues in this field. In 1705, the San Luca Academy of Art in Rome appointed her a member. This high distinction was bestowed on only a few women, especially as academic training was still denied them for a long time. The Accademia Clementina in Bologna also accepted her as a member in 1720, and a year later the Académie Royale in Paris.

The exhibition shows over 100 exhibits and takes the public first to the lagoon city of Venice, with views of the Grand Canal, where Carriera had her residence. In addition to the pastel paintings, there are also typical Venetian handicraft products such as glass, lace and fine cloth to discover.

**Ausstellungsansicht "Rosalba Carriera. Perfektion in Pastell"**

Complementing the show, a concentrated cabinet exhibition entitled Out of the Shadows. Women Artists from the 16th to the 18th Century focuses on other female artists from the 16th to the 18th century who have so far tended to lead a shadowy existence alongside the big names in art history. Often it was the daughters of famous masters who trained in their father's workshop and were thus able to assert themselves in a professional field that was dominated by men at the time. Works by Lavinia Fontana, Marietta Robusti, gen. La Tintoretta, Theresa Concordia Maron, née Mengs and Angelika Kauffmann are brought into focus.