Who painted Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs?

Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs was painted by Bartolomeo Nazari in 1724.

Where can I see Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs?

Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs?

Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs is associated with Rococo painting.

Portrait of Luca Carlevarijs by Bartolomeo Nazari (1724)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition includes specific attributes that define his portrayal: he is shown wearing a wig, a cravat, and a robe, while holding a book.

The painting depicts Luca Carlevarijs, identified as the primary subject of the work. The composition includes specific attributes that define his portrayal: he is shown wearing a wig, a cravat, and a robe, while holding a book. These elements serve as the central iconographic features of the portrait, visually representing the sitter's identity and status through his attire and the inclusion of the literary object.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, as indicated by the medium descriptions of oil paint and oil on canvas. The portrait depicts Luca Carlevarijs wearing a wig, cravat, robe and holding a book, reflecting the formal attire and accessories typical of an early‑eighteenth‑century sitter. Measuring 97 cm high by 79.5 cm wide, the painting presents a straightforward, half‑length likeness with careful attention to the textures of fabric and the sitter’s facial features.

History & Provenance

Bartolomeo Nazari executed the oil-on-canvas portrait of Luca Carlevarijs in 1724. The work depicts the subject wearing a wig, cravat, and robe while holding a book. In 1931, the painting entered the collection of the Ashmolean Museum as accession number WA1931.18.

It was presented by the friends of C. F. Bell, who served as the first Keeper of the Department of Fine Art at the institution. The acquisition marked the formal transfer of the artwork into public ownership at the museum in Oxford.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum. It entered the institution in 1931 as a presentation from friends of C. F. Bell, who served as the first Keeper of the Department of Fine Art. The work is registered under the accession number WA1931.18. While the painting dates to 1724, available records do not list specific public exhibitions for this piece.

Legacy

After its completion in 1724 by Bartolomeo Nazari, the portrait of Luca Carlevarijs entered the Ashmolean Museum's collection in 1931 as a gift from friends of C. F. Bell, the museum’s first Keeper of the Department of Fine Art. Its presence in the Ashmolean has ensured continued scholarly and public access, contributing to the work’s enduring reputation as a representative example of early‑eighteenth‑century Venetian portraiture. The painting remains on display, attesting to its lasting legacy within the museum’s holdings.

Overview

Bartolomeo Nazari’s oil portrait, executed in 1724, presents Luca Carlevarijs, a noted Venetian artist, in a formal pose. The canvas captures the sitter in mid‑18th‑century dress, emphasizing his status through refined clothing and accessories.

Context

At the time of its execution, Carlevarijs was renowned for his vedute of Venice, influencing later cityscape painters. The portrait situates him among contemporaries whose visual documentation of urban life was gaining cultural importance.