The painter Rosalba Carriera is one of the leading figures in The Laws of Time. The dinner on November 9, 1730, the heart of the story, is organised by Catterina Antelmi to celebrate Carriera’s return to Venice from Vienna where she had gone to make portraits of the members of the court.
“Even before her shape thickened with the passing of her fifty-five years, Carriera, with her sharp, slightly dark expression, heavy eyebrows and narrow lips, certainly had never been a singular beauty. Nevertheless, this woman, with whom nature had been somewhat sparing, had wooed the major courts of Europe as an artist whose pastels were highly sought-after by aristocrats and gentlemen. Despite this, she still addressed her work and life with an exemplary modesty and discipline that came from an awareness of the importance of the artisan’s craft.”
Rosalba came from a humble family. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was an embroiderer. She became a painter highly regarded all over Europe. With her the pastel portrait gained popularity and became one of the most characteristic genres of the eighteenth century.
“Rosalba was also an excellent violinist and a brilliant conversationalist, enough to figure, on the whole, as a very seductive person in many respects.”
Rather prone to loneliness and melancholy, she was never tempted by fame and ambition. Her correspondence was very useful for the historical reconstruction of her movements and for her observations and thoughts. What shines through her letters is a simple, curious, intelligent, and modest woman. The centre of her life remained in Venice, in the house where he lived with his sister Giovanna. The house is still standing, although it has been renovated and modified, and nothing is left of the artist’s studio. It is located next door to the current Peggy Guggenheim Museum, on the right hand side when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal.
Carriera’s house is not far from the church of Saints Vito and Modesto, which in Venice they call “San Vio”. It was in the church of San Vio that her sister, Giovanna, was buried when she died in 1738, as was Rosalba herself in 1757. The last years of Rosalba’s life had been obscured by blindness—progressively preventing her from working—and, ultimately, madness.
The church of San Vio was closed in 1808 and completely demolished in 1813. No trace remains of the Carriera sisters’ graves.
Rosalba Carriera, Self-portrait — Winter
1730
Pastel.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
1730
Pastel.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Rosalba Carriera, Sidney Beauclerk (1703-1744)
circa 1720-1723
Private collection
circa 1720-1723
Private collection
Rosalba Carriera, Allegorical figure of a young Lady with a laurel crown.
Unknown date.
Pastel
Private collection
Unknown date.
Pastel
Private collection
Rosalba Carriera, Portriat of a young Lady.
After 1720.
Pastel
The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
After 1720.
Pastel
The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
Rosalba Carriera, Africa
Without date
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Without date
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera, Head of a Young Dark-Haired Woman
ca 1730
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
The cover of The Laws of Time comes from this pastel.
ca 1730
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
The cover of The Laws of Time comes from this pastel.
Rosalba Carriera, Diana
Date: 1740-1746
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
Date: 1740-1746
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of a young Lady with fur.
First half of 18th century.
Pastel.
The State Hermitage museum – St Petersburg
First half of 18th century.
Pastel.
The State Hermitage museum – St Petersburg
1756. Venice. Rosalba Carriera’s last will, bearing her autograph signature. The painter is 83 years old and, as the notary reports, “è priva della vista” (she’s blind).
Venice State Archive
http://www.archiviodistatovenezia.it/
Venice State Archive
http://www.archiviodistatovenezia.it/
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of Faustina Bordoni with a musical score.
Circa 1724-1725
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera made a few portraits of the famous opera singer Faustina Bordoni.
Circa 1724-1725
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera made a few portraits of the famous opera singer Faustina Bordoni.
Rosalba Carriera, Female Head with a Ribbon and Laurels In the Hair
Unknown date, between 1701 and 1757
Pastel on paper. The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
Unknown date, between 1701 and 1757
Pastel on paper. The State Hermitage museum. St Petersburg
Rosalba Carriera, Sir James Gray, Second Baronet
Circa 1744 – 1745
Pastel
Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Circa 1744 – 1745
Pastel
Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait ofi Henry Fiennes Clinton Pelham-Clinton, 9th Count of Lincoln and second Duke of Newcastle (1720-94)
1741
Pastel
Nottingham University, Newcastle
Collection Lord Henry Fiennes Clinton
Pelham-Clinton visited Venice in Summer 1741, during his Grand Tour with the English writer Horace Walpole.
1741
Pastel
Nottingham University, Newcastle
Collection Lord Henry Fiennes Clinton
Pelham-Clinton visited Venice in Summer 1741, during his Grand Tour with the English writer Horace Walpole.
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of a Young Woman. Study
Without date
Pastel
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
Without date
Pastel
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
Between the charm of Campo San Vio and the sinister irony of Ca’ Dario, in an unassuming house over two floors and looking onto the Grand Canal, lived the painter Rosalba Carriera and her sister Giovanna.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
Rosalba Carriera, Young Woman with pearl earrings
Pastel.
Circa 1720
Pastel.
Circa 1720
Rosalba Carriera, Caterina Sagredo Barbarigo as Berenice
1741
Detroit Institute of the Arts (United States)
Pastel
1741
Detroit Institute of the Arts (United States)
Pastel
She walked down the narrow stairs, went out and closed the little door firmly behind her. The cold made her shiver. She wrapped her shawl snugly around her head and neck and held her cloak close about her.
In the image: the entrance to Rosalba’s house.
Not far from Carriera’s house was the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto, known locally in Venice as “San Vio”. The painter was very fond of and devoted to this church.
When her sister Giovanna died in 1738, she was buried there, as was Rosalba herself, in 1757.
In the image: the entrance to Rosalba’s house.
Not far from Carriera’s house was the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto, known locally in Venice as “San Vio”. The painter was very fond of and devoted to this church.
When her sister Giovanna died in 1738, she was buried there, as was Rosalba herself, in 1757.
Rosalba Carriera, A Gentleman in a Gold Patterned Coat and Violet-Brown Cape
Circa 1727
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Circa 1727
Pastel
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of Ambrose Philips of Garendon (1707-1737)
Date unknown
Landesgalerie – Hannover
Date unknown
Landesgalerie – Hannover
Between the charm of Campo San Vio and the sinister irony of Ca’ Dario, in an unassuming house over two floors and looking onto the Grand Canal, lived the painter Rosalba Carriera and her sister Giovanna.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of Horace Walpole
Circa 1741
Private collection
Circa 1741
Private collection
Rosalba Carriera, Crown Prince Friedrich Christian of Saxony (1722-1763)
1739
Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
1739
Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera, Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Habsburg
1730
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
1730
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of a boy
Circa 1725-1726
Pastel.
Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venezia
Circa 1725-1726
Pastel.
Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venezia
Between the charm of Campo San Vio and the sinister irony of Ca’ Dario, in an unassuming house over two floors and looking onto the Grand Canal, lived the painter Rosalba Carriera and her sister Giovanna.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
The house in Venice where Rosalba and her sister lived still exists. It has since been renovated and modified, and nothing remains of the artist’s studio. The house is located immediately beside the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, to the right when looking at the museum from the Grand Canal. In 1730, when the novel The Laws of Time takes place, on the site of the Guggenheim property, known historically as Palazzo Venier dai Leoni, stood the old palazzo owned by the Procurator of San Marco, Girolamo Venier.
Rosalba Carriera, Pisana Mocenigo, née Corner (o Cornaro)
Date unknown
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Date unknown
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Rosalba Carriera, Head of a Fair-Haired Woman
Circa 1730
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
Circa 1730
Pastel on paper.
The State Hermitage Museum – St Petersburg
Rosalba Carriera – Portrait of Caterina Sagredo Barbarigo
Circa 1735-1740
Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Drawing – pastel
Circa 1735-1740
Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister – Dresden (Germany)
Drawing – pastel
Rosalba Carriera, Self-portriat
1746
Galleria dell Accademia, Venezia
1746
Galleria dell Accademia, Venezia
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton in Masquerade Costume
circa 1730-1731
Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York, NY (United States)
circa 1730-1731
Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York, NY (United States)
Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of a Gentleman
Circa 1730-1740
Pastel
Museo Poldi Pezzoli – Milano (Italy)
Circa 1730-1740
Pastel
Museo Poldi Pezzoli – Milano (Italy)
Rosalba Carriera – A Muse
Circa 1725
Pastel on paper
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Circa 1725
Pastel on paper
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Rosalba Carriera, Self-portrait as an old woman
1746
Pastel
The Royal Collection Trust, Buckingham Palace, London
1746
Pastel
The Royal Collection Trust, Buckingham Palace, London
She walked down the narrow stairs, went out and closed the little door firmly behind her. The cold made her shiver. She wrapped her shawl snugly around her head and neck and held her cloak close about her.
In the image: the entrance to Rosalba’s house.
Not far from Carriera’s house was the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto, known locally in Venice as “San Vio”. The painter was very fond of and devoted to this church.
When her sister Giovanna died in 1738, she was buried there, as was Rosalba herself, in 1757.
In the image: the entrance to Rosalba’s house.
Not far from Carriera’s house was the Church of Saints Vito and Modesto, known locally in Venice as “San Vio”. The painter was very fond of and devoted to this church.
When her sister Giovanna died in 1738, she was buried there, as was Rosalba herself, in 1757.
Rosalba Carriera, Sir John Reade, Bart
1739
National Gallery of Art – Washington DC (United States)
1739
National Gallery of Art – Washington DC (United States)
“Signora Rosalba, finally!” said Catterina, receiving her enthusiastically and embracing her. “Welcome back.”
“Welcome back,” Alessandro Antelmi greeted her, offering a slight bow and a smile.
The other guests, apart from the Ottobonis, had already arrived. Antonio Lotti and Joseph Smith greeted the painter more formally, but with warm respect. Marcello plucked a late-bloomed rose from a vase and offered it to Rosalba with a deep bow.
The Laws of Time, a novel by Andrea Perego
Graphic design: three portraits by Rosalba Carriera. from the left: Portrait of Henry Fiennes Clinton Pelham-Clinton, 9th Count of Lincoln and 2nd Duke of Newcastle, probably 1741; Portrait of a young Lady with fur, first half of 18th century, The State Hermitage museum, San Pietroburgo; Self-portrait in Winter, 1730, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden. On the background: Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, Venice
“Welcome back,” Alessandro Antelmi greeted her, offering a slight bow and a smile.
The other guests, apart from the Ottobonis, had already arrived. Antonio Lotti and Joseph Smith greeted the painter more formally, but with warm respect. Marcello plucked a late-bloomed rose from a vase and offered it to Rosalba with a deep bow.
The Laws of Time, a novel by Andrea Perego
Graphic design: three portraits by Rosalba Carriera. from the left: Portrait of Henry Fiennes Clinton Pelham-Clinton, 9th Count of Lincoln and 2nd Duke of Newcastle, probably 1741; Portrait of a young Lady with fur, first half of 18th century, The State Hermitage museum, San Pietroburgo; Self-portrait in Winter, 1730, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden. On the background: Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, Venice
A Bohemian crystal basket brimmed with sweet bonbons—nicknamed ‘devil bombs’—made of aromatic herbs. All the tables were covered with carpets over which were laid embroidered brocade tablecloths.
“And your other sister, is she still in Vienna?” asked Marcello.
“No, Anzoleta and Tonin are here!” Rosalba exclaimed with a smile, as she took her place at the oval table with the other guests.
The Laws of Time, a novel by Andrea Perego
Graphic design: four portraits by Rosalba Carriera. From the left: Portrait of Henry Fiennes Clinton Pelham-Clinton, 9th Count of Lincoln and 2nd Duke of Newcastle, probably 1741; Sir James Gray, Second Baronet, circa 1744, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Caterina Sagredo Barbarigo, circa 1735, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden; Self-portrait in Winter, 1730, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden.
On the background: Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, Venice
“And your other sister, is she still in Vienna?” asked Marcello.
“No, Anzoleta and Tonin are here!” Rosalba exclaimed with a smile, as she took her place at the oval table with the other guests.
The Laws of Time, a novel by Andrea Perego
Graphic design: four portraits by Rosalba Carriera. From the left: Portrait of Henry Fiennes Clinton Pelham-Clinton, 9th Count of Lincoln and 2nd Duke of Newcastle, probably 1741; Sir James Gray, Second Baronet, circa 1744, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Caterina Sagredo Barbarigo, circa 1735, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden; Self-portrait in Winter, 1730, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden.
On the background: Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, Venice
The Laws of Time 