The artwork, titled “Lady in a Turkish Costume (Felicita Sartori),” was created by Rosalba Carriera in 1728 using pastels. As an exemplar of the Rococo art movement, this portrait depicts a female subject adorned in Turkish attire, capturing the era’s fascination with exoticism and luxury. The piece is currently housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
In the artwork, the lady is portrayed with an elegant and somewhat contemplative expression, characteristic of Rococo portraiture’s subtle emotional undertones. She is dressed in a richly decorated blue robe with floral patterns, and an intricate headpiece adorned with jewels, complemented by a feather. She holds a small black mask in her right hand, suggestive of the era’s fondness for masquerades and the allure of mystery. The pastel medium allows for soft, blended colors, highlighting the delicate beauty of the subject’s features and her sumptuous attire. The background is rendered in muted tones, drawing the viewer’s attention solely to the luminescent figure of the lady.
