Clara
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Clara is a 1797 ink by John Raphael Smith, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This portrait shows a woman with soft curls and a gentle smile. She wears a high-necked dress with ruffles at the collar, and her hair is partly covered by a light veil. The background is dark, making her face stand out clearly. The artist used shading to give her skin and fabric a smooth, almost three-dimensional look. This style was common in portraits from that time. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other art.
