Portrait of Madame Lethieullier

One of the most important eighteenth-century portraitists in all of Europe, Rosalba Carriera revolutionized the medium of pastel and turned her Venetian studio into an essential tourist stop for the European elite. This portrait of an English woman identified as Sarah Lethieullier (née Lascelles) stands out for the magnetic confidence of its sitter and its rich textural detail.


Although this work is a highlight of the Museum’s collection, it can only be exhibited every few years, due to the light-sensitivity of pastel. This is its first time on view at the Museum.