Elector Clemens Augustus of Cologne 1727

Rosalba Carriera captured Elector Clemens Augustus of Cologne with pastels, a favored medium during the 18th century for their soft, luminous quality. The delicate, powdery texture of pastels allowed Carriera to create subtle gradations of color and a palpable sense of volume. She built up the image through layers of pigment, a painstaking process that highlights the material's capacity for both precision and nuance. The pastel medium itself speaks to a particular moment in art history, when there was a high demand for portraiture among the elite. The relative ease and speed of pastel work allowed artists to meet this demand, making it a popular choice. Carriera's skillful handling of pastels elevates the medium, demonstrating that so-called "craft" materials are capable of the same expressive power as more traditional fine art media, like oils. Ultimately, it's a reminder that artistic value lies not just in the subject, but in the artist's mastery of materials and process.