Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche
Medium
Red chalk over graphite (portrait), pen and black ink and watercolor over graphite (surround), circular framing line in graphite
Dimensions
image: 36 × 35.9 cm · secondary support: 39.1 × 38.7 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1999.172
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
The woman portrayed in the oval has not yet been identified, but she is made to look highly important by her rendition in profile, like an ancient Renaissance coin, and by the elaborate decoration surrounding the cartouche (the central area containing the portrait). Increasing her distinction, the flying male nudes personify Victory and Fame, while the crown, that of an English viscountess, indicates her nobility. The contrast in technique between the cartouche—composed of pen, ink, and watercol...