Artwork
Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of a Lady is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pietro Longhi. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Portrait of a Lady is an oil painting by Pietro Longhi, dated to 1760. It is a waist-up portrait of a woman, executed in a realistic style with meticulous detail, currently part of the collection at the Walters Art Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a woman with distinctive white hair adorned with flowers, wearing a blue dress with a low neckline and a matching blue bow. Her direct gaze engages the viewer, while her pale complexion adds a note of serenity to the composition.
Technique & Style
Longhi employed a realistic approach, focusing on detailed rendering of the subject's attire and coiffure. The dark background serves to isolate and emphasize the figure, highlighting the subtle play of light on her face and clothing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1760, the painting is attributed to Pietro Longhi. Its current location is the Walters Art Museum, though the trajectory of its ownership prior to this is not detailed in the available information.
Context
While specific contextual details about the sitter or the commission are not provided, the work reflects 18th-century portraiture conventions with its attention to the subject's attire and direct engagement with the viewer.
Artist & collection



















