ROSALBA CARRIERA (1675-1757)

A Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne (1710 – 1746)

Venice, about 1730 – 1

Pastel, heightened with white bodycolour on paper

597 x 476 mm

This striking portrait of Lord Boyne shows him in Venetian carnival dress, wearing a fine ermine trimmed coat, a bauta or lace veil, black tricorn hat and a white mask, pushed away to reveal his face.

Boyne was in Italy with his travelling companion Edward Walpole and they both enjoyed the Venetian carnival in January 1730 before travelling to the Piacenza for the opera and then to Rome. Boyne was just 21 when Carriera, one of Europe’s leading pastillists, drew this image.

Purchased 2009 (No. 2009.3)

THIS WORK IS NOT CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY

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26 January 2021