Retrato de D. Carlota Joaquina, Rainha de Portugal 1802

Domingos Sequeira made this portrait of Carlota Joaquina, Queen of Portugal, with oil paint on canvas. Consider the way that oil paint allows the artist to depict luxurious materials. Look closely and you can see the cumulative effect of layers of brushstrokes that build up the form and texture of Queen Carlota's garments. The artist expertly uses the medium to render the sheen of silk, the plushness of ermine trim, and the sparkle of the diamond tiara. Portraiture has always been tied to social class, and this painting is no exception. A work like this would have involved considerable resources. Sourcing high quality pigments required global trade networks; the canvas had to be carefully prepared; and of course, skilled labor was essential to create the image. The very act of sitting for a portrait was a privilege, reflecting the sitter's elevated status. The accumulation of these processes underscores the Queen's position at the pinnacle of Portuguese society.