The Fine Sale took place on September 17 at Cheffins auction house in Cambridge. The standout lot was a portrait by the Italian pastel painter Rosalba Carriera, one of the most sought-after portraitists of the 18th century. Known for her delicately colored portraits, Carriera helped define Rococo portraiture and produced works that went beyond surface likeness, capturing something of the sitter’s inner character.
See also: Rosalba Carriera: The Queen of Pastels Who Revolutionized Portraiture
After a successful period in Paris, where she painted portraits of Louis XV and fellow artist Antoine Watteau, Carriera returned to Venice. There she became a favourite among English gentlemen visiting the city on their Grand Tour. One of them was the future MP Coulson Fellowes, who sat for her in 1724. His portrait, kept in the family for more than three centuries, came to auction for the first time at Cheffins.
See also: Three-Century-Old Rosalba Carriera Portrait Comes to Auction
Estimated at £15,000–£25,000, the portrait drew strong competition from British and international bidders. In the end, a UK-based private collector, bidding by telephone, secured the work for £400,000. With premium and taxes, the total reached £508,000 (about $684,500), setting a new auction record for Carriera. The previous record was achieved in 2002 at Sotheby’s in New York, when a portrait of another English Grand Tour traveller, Gustavus Hamilton, sold for US$621,750.
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Luke Bodalbhai, painting specialist at Cheffins, said: “This was a particularly elegant study by Rosalba and really exhibited her talent as one of the leading lights of 18th century portraiture. The piece was fascinating in that it had been created by one of the most interesting artists of the period, but also during some of the most pivotal years for British and European art and travel. As one of the first women to achieve international fame in portraiture, Carriera remains a trailblazer in art history, and it was a privilege to be able to offer this important work to the market for the first time.”
