Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche
1785
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1785
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a woman in profile inside an oval frame, like a coin. Around her, two flying men hold a crown, and swirling decorations look like carved stone. No one knows who she is, but the artist made her look powerful. The crown is for an English viscountess, even though the painting is Italian. The mix of real and mythical details—like Victory and Fame as flying men—makes her seem grand. Look up the technique sfumato to see how other artists softened edges like this.
![Sacrifice [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/e241efd578d18f6e/thumb.webp)
![Designs for Vases [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/e4733d1cf07d063d/thumb.webp)
