Portrait of Cardinal Zelada 1773

Anton Raphael Mengs' 1773 portrait of Cardinal Zelada is a prime example of Neoclassical portraiture. The painting depicts the Cardinal in formal attire, including a red cassock and white fur-trimmed cape, highlighting his status and power. Mengs' masterful use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism, while the calm and composed expression on the Cardinal's face conveys an air of authority and intellect. The painting, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to Mengs' skill as a portraitist and a significant piece of 18th-century European art.