Rosalba Carriera

Happy Birthday Rosalba Carriera!! Born in 1675, this Italian painter was one of the few women painters of the time. She was the daughter of a lacemaker (mother) and began with lace patterns, but she became a portrait painter and a painter of miniatures on ivory snuff boxes. She is highly regarded for her finished pastel work. Although she traveled Europe, Carriera was a Venitian and a student of her brother-in-law Pellegrini. Her work was quite popular amongst the aristocratic society of the 18th century, exhibiting modern Rococo details. The self-portrait below shows Carriera painting a portrait of her sister.