Circle of Pietro Longhi- a full length oil on canvas portrai...

Hammer

£6,000

Circle of Pietro Longhi- a full length oil on canvas portrait of a dwarf female opera singer (Clorinda).

People with dwarfism have a long history of being associated with Royal courts and the aristocracy. In Europe they were admired and used as a display of status. Pietro Longhi depicts dwarfs in four genre paintings, 'The Tooth Drawer', 'The Lady's Toilet', 'The Interrupted Game of Cards' and 'The Visit from the Domino'. This arguably highlights their presence in 18thC aristocratic Venetian households.

The singer is depicted wearing an extravagant pannier dress with red and white ruched sleeves and jewelled and tasseled decoration an ermine cape around her shoulders. Plumes of feathers adorn her head, in one hand she holds a jewelled scabbard and the other she brandishes a sword. An engraving of the opera singer Julie d'Aubigny depicts a similar style of dress and she has become famous historically for her sword skills off stage. This portrait could be based on her particular representation of the character of Clorinda.

Portrait of female dwarfs are much less frequent than their male counterparts. Her status as an opera singer adds additional intrigue as to her identity. There were close links between Carlo Goldoni and Pietro Longhi. Both Pietro and his son, Allessandro, carried out commissions for the Grimani family who also had theatres in Venice.

Provenance- the painting has been part of the private collection of Georgina Fairholme since the 1960's and was reputedly acquired in America. Georgina was a celebrated interior designer and worked with clients such as Jackie Onassis bringing English sophistication into American homes.

There is craquelure all over the surface and possible areas of overpainting to the right hand space as well as an old graze scar. A small dent in the canvas to the left hand space near the sword. An old repair patch to the reverse. The frame has gilding and moulding loss and old woodworm in some areas. There is just one old label remaining with the number that looks to be 8128. 63cm x 48cm image size.

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There is craquelure all over the surface and possible areas of overpainting to the right hand space as well as an old graze scar. A small dent in the canvas to the left hand space near the sword. An old repair patch to the reverse. The frame has gilding and moulding loss and old woodworm in some areas. There is just one old label remaining with the number that looks to be 8128.