Ritratto di gentildonna con abito ornato di fiori 

Editor: This is a pastel portrait, *Ritratto di gentildonna con abito ornato di fiori* – or Portrait of a Lady with a Flower-Adorned Dress. We think it was painted by Rosalba Carriera. I find the softness and subtle colours of the pastel really striking, almost dreamlike. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! Rosalba... a whirlwind of lace and whispered secrets in a Venetian masquerade. To me, this isn't just a portrait; it’s a flirtatious conversation, a delicate dance between artist and sitter. The colours are definitely subtle, almost as if the flowers themselves have blushed onto the canvas! Editor: A dance? I like that image! Curator: See how Carriera uses pastel? Each stroke seems to exhale, creating a luminous, almost ethereal quality. It makes you wonder what she thought about the woman she was painting. Was she confidante, rival, friend? I feel I can almost hear them chatting. Perhaps she’s confiding the perils of wearing such an ornate dress... or the secrets of a broken heart! What do *you* think she's saying to us, just by looking at us? Editor: Hmm, maybe she's a bit shy, or perhaps quite contemplative. Curator: Exactly. Her gaze isn't demanding or direct, but instead somewhat soft. And look at the details around the flowers. What does the inclusion of flowers tell us about her, and about how the artist saw her? Editor: I hadn't thought of that! I guess the flowers symbolize femininity and beauty. Seeing the painting in this way helps me notice new aspects of the portrait. Curator: Doesn't it always! It reminds us to look for stories everywhere, doesn't it? The secrets behind the soft pastels...