ROSALBA CARRIERA Meaning and
Definition
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Rosalba Carriera was an Italian painter of the 18th century, best known for her exquisite miniature portraits and works in pastel. Born in Venice in 1675, Carriera quickly gained recognition for her talent and became one of the leading artists of her time.
Carriera's style is characterized by her delicate and meticulous technique, which allowed her to create incredibly lifelike and detailed portraits. Her preferred medium was pastel, a powdered pigment, which she skillfully applied to achieve soft and subtle effects. Carriera's subjects included various members of the European aristocracy, as well as prominent figures of her time, such as poets, artists, and musicians.
One of Carriera's greatest contributions to the art world was her innovative use of ivory as a surface for her miniatures. She developed a technique of painting in reverse on thin translucent layers of ivory, which gave her portraits a luminous quality and added a sense of depth to her subjects.
Carriera's work was highly sought after and admired by her contemporaries. She received numerous commissions from wealthy patrons across Europe and her talent was celebrated by famous writers and philosophers of the time, including Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Through her artistic achievements, Rosalba Carriera made a significant impact on the development of portrait painting and the use of pastel as a medium. Her meticulous attention to detail, innovative techniques, and ability to capture the essence of her subjects make her a highly regarded artist in art history.
Etymology of ROSALBA CARRIERA
The etymology of the word "Rosalba Carriera" refers to an Italian name. "Rosalba" is composed of the Italian words "rosa" which means "rose" and "alba" which means "dawn" or "white". Together, "Rosalba" conveys the idea of a "white rose" or a "dawn rose".
"Carriera" is an Italian surname, derived from the Italian word "carriero" which means "street" or "road". It has origins in Medieval Latin, derived from "carrus" meaning "cart" or "wagon". Over time, the surname evolved to connote someone associated with the streets or roads, potentially an occupation such as a street vendor or itinerant performer.
