Rosalba Carriera (1673-1757) was the most celebrated woman artist in eighteenth-century Europe. She worked in the inherently fragile medium of pastel and was always concerned for the well-being of her creations. The recent discovery of a sacred image placed by Rosalba in one of her pastels has led to discovery of a number of similar prints. We will follow in Rosalba’s footsteps, from her house in Venice to the European courts for which her pastels were destined.

Presented by Dr. Xavier F. Salomon, Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator, The Frick Collection and Save Venice Board Member.

Xavier F. Salomon is a noted scholar of Paolo Veronese and curated the monographic exhibition on the artist at the National Gallery, London (March–June 2014). Previously, he was Curator in the Department of European Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Arturo and Holly Melosi Chief Curator at Dulwich Picture Gallery. He has curated Cagnacci’s Repentant Magdalene: An Italian Baroque Masterpiece from the Norton Simon Museum (2016–17), Veronese in Murano: Two Venetian Renaissance Masterpieces Restored (2017–18), Murillo: The Self-Portraits (2017–18), and Canova’s George Washington (2018). Xavier serves as a member of the Projects Committee on the Board of Directors of Save Venice.

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Photo: Rosalba Carriera, Portrait of a Man in Pilgrim’s Costume, ca. 1730–50. © The Frick Collection