Artwork
Countess Spencer
Countess Spencer is a print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Bartolozzi. It dates from 1787 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Notice how the artist used shading to make her face stand out against the dark background.
This is a portrait of a woman wearing a large white hat with a blue trim. She has light skin, soft curls, and a pale dress with lace details. The background is dark and fuzzy, focusing all attention on her face.
The signature at the bottom names her "The Rt. Hon. the Countess Spencer," and the print was made in 1787. Notice how the artist used shading to make her face stand out against the dark background.
Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
Overview
Countess Spencer is a print created by Francesco Bartolozzi in 1787, currently held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print is a portrait of a woman, identified as the Countess Spencer, depicted wearing a large white hat and a pale dress with lace details, set against a dark background.
Technique & Style
The artist employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to draw attention to the subject's face, achieved through shading that makes her features stand out against the fuzzy, dark background.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bartolozzi (21 September 1727 – 7 March 1815) was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London. He is noted for popularizing the "crayon" method of engraving.
