Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche

Description

The woman portrayed in the oval has not yet been identified, but she is made to look highly important by her rendition in profile, like an ancient Renaissance coin, and by the elaborate decoration surrounding the cartouche (the central area containing the portrait). Increasing her distinction, the flying male nudes personify Victory and Fame, while the crown, that of an English viscountess, indicates her nobility. The contrast in technique between the cartouche—composed of pen, ink, and watercolor—and the red-chalk portrait was purposefully emphasized to suggest that the portrait is an older "icon" of reverence. Giuseppe Cades was an important history painter and frescoist, known also for his decorative ensembles, whose influence can be detected in the decorative quality of this composition. This drawing combines the contemporary French Rococo style of the red chalk portrait with the antique-based, Italian style of the surrounding decorative figures and forms. A finished work rather than a preparatory study, it would have been made as a souvenir for the English tourist during her stay in Rome on the Grand Tour.

Provenance

Archibald George Blomefield Russell [1879-1955], London, (Lugt 2770a). (?-1952); with P. & D. Colnaghi, London, April 29-May 30 1952, cat. no. 43 (as Augustin de St. Aubin). (1952); Ray Livingston Murphy, New York, NY (1923-1953) (1952-1953); by inheritance to his mother, Ray Slater Murphy, 1953.; Ray Slater Murphy (later Blakeman), New York, NY (1895-1985) (1953-1985); (sold, as from Estate of Ray Livingston Murphy, Christie's, London, December 11-13, 1985, no. 183.) (1985); Private collection. (After 1985-1998); (Sotheby's, New York, January 28, 1998, cat. no. 60) (1998); (Thomas Williams Fine Art, Ltd, London, purchased by The Cleveland Museum of Art, Aug. 1999.) (probably 1998-1999); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH. (1999-)