Artwork
Spring
Spring is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Rosalba Carriera. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1725, *Spring* is a pastel painting by Italian Rococo artist Rosalba Carriera (1673–1757). The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection and exemplifies the light, elegant aesthetic characteristic of early eighteenth‑century European art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a solitary female figure, possibly an allegorical representation of the season, holding a single flower. Dressed in a flowing white and blue garment with blossoms woven into her hair, she gazes directly at the viewer with a calm, serene expression, suggesting an idealized embodiment of renewal.
Technique & Style
Carriera employs the soft, luminous qualities of pastel on paper, allowing delicate transitions between light and shadow. The dark background heightens the contrast, emphasizing the figure’s pale attire and the subtle coloration of the flower, hallmarks of her refined, airy Rococo approach.
History & Provenance
After achieving fame for miniature portraits, Carriera turned to larger pastel works, gaining a reputation across Europe. *Spring* entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings in the nineteenth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Rococo collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rosalba Carriera (12 January 1673 – 15 April 1757) was an Italian Rococo painter.
