Artwork
Caroline Maria Therese of Parma and family
Caroline Maria Therese of Parma and family is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
It is classified as a painting and portrait, depicting a woman, and was created under the direction of an artist recorded in the internal catalogue.
The portrait of Caroline Maria Therese of Parma and her family was executed in 1790 as part of a series of miniatures. It is classified as a painting and portrait, depicting a woman, and was created under the direction of an artist recorded in the internal catalogue. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Its provenance is tied to the museum’s acquisition of the miniature series, establishing the institution as the current owner. The dating and creation history are documented in contemporary records that specify the year 1790 as the completion date.
The series of miniatures is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in its collection and location data. Dated to 1790, the work is catalogued within the museum's holdings as a portrait series depicting a woman.
No specific accession number, inventory entry, or details of past exhibitions are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, titled Caroline Maria Therese of Parma and family, presents a unique arrangement of multiple individual portraits. Likely depicting members of a single family, these images are displayed in a linear sequence. Each distinct likeness is contained within a dark, possibly octagonal enclosure, and a chain or rope visually connects them. The central portrait is rendered at a larger scale than the surrounding images, drawing the viewer's attention.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork portrays Caroline Maria Therese of Parma alongside her family members. Each individual is depicted in formal attire, with women in dresses and men in suits, conveying a sense of decorum. Their expressions are uniformly serious, and some subjects meet the viewer's gaze directly.
This collective presentation, featuring distinct yet linked portraits, emphasizes the familial connection while potentially highlighting a central figure through its larger scale.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic manner, the painting demonstrates a meticulous attention to detail and surface texture. The artist utilized a controlled color palette, incorporating deep browns and blacks alongside lighter shades of gray and white to define forms and create contrast. The individual portraits are framed within dark, possibly octagonal shapes, which are visually linked by a chain-like element, contributing to the work's distinct and formal aesthetic.
Artist & collection
