Pastel Portraits: Drawn from Life?

Across 18th-century Europe, artists relished the convenience and versatility of pastels to make portraits. Yet the images they made varied from a straightforward “likeness” that was an accurate portrayal of a real individual’s features to “imaginary” renderings not intended to depict a specific person. 

Highlighting pastels by two of the most important women artists of the day, Rosalba Carriera and Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, this focused installation features works principally drawn from the Museum’s collection.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website