Flora 1738 - 1815

Francesco Bartolozzi created this stipple engraving, "Flora", sometime between 1728 and 1815. The monochrome print depicts a woman adorned as Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring. Note how the composition uses a gentle tonal range to create soft gradations of light and shadow. Bartolozzi’s stipple technique lends a delicate, almost dreamlike quality to the figure. Observe how he uses line and form to guide the viewer's eye from the elaborate hairstyle, down the flowing lines of the gown, to the classical column and floral arrangements. The figure's relaxed pose and serene expression add to the overall sense of harmony. This work reflects the 18th-century interest in classical antiquity and the allegorical representation of abstract concepts. The artist’s technique, combined with the subject matter, invites us to consider the relationship between classical ideals and contemporary artistic practices. It also makes us think about the changing meanings associated with images of women in art.