12 BIOGRAPHY 1673 Rosalba Carriera is born on 12 January 1673, the eldest daughter of the law clerk Andrea Carriera and Alba Foresti, who reside on the Rio di San Barnaba in the San Basilio neighbourhood of Venice. Together with her sisters Giovanna (1675– 1737) and Angela Cecilia (1677–1757), Rosalba receives a wide-ranging education, with instruction in embroidery, lacemaking, music, Latin, and French. It remains uncertain whether Rosalba was a self-taught artist, or instead received professional training. Mentioned as possible masters have been Jean Steve, Antonio Lazzari, Giuseppe Diamantini, Antonio Balestra, Sebastiano Bombelli, Federico Bencovich, Felice Ramelli, and Benedetto Luti. Circa 1695 Rosalba establishes her own workshop, where she gives her sisters instruction in painting, and produces her first miniatures. Giovanna becomes her most important studio assistant. 1700 Carriera starts an extensive correspondence with artists and art dealers, as well as international clients. Commencing now too is her close lifelong friendship with Antonio Maria Zanetti, who shares with her his many contacts to patrons and lovers of art. In all likelihood, it is Zanetti who advises her to take up the medium of pastel. 1704 Rosalba’s first acquisition of pastel chalk is documented in the artist’s correspondence with Christian Cole, first secretary at the British embassy in Venice. 1705 With support from Christian Cole, Carriera receives her first public recognition as a miniature painter with her admission to the Accademia di San Luca in Rome on 27 September 1705, with the highest title of accademica di merito. 1706 Numerous commissions from German noblemen, among them Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg, and the Polish princess and Electress of Bavaria Therese Kunigunde. Carriera politely declines an invitation from Johann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine, to serve as court painter in Düsseldorf. 1709 Receives commissions from various European princely and royal houses, among them one from Frederick IV, King of Denmark, who visits her during a trip to Venice. 1712/13 On his Grand Tour, the Saxon Crown Prince Frederick Augustus (II) arrives in Venice for the first time. He becomes acquainted with Carriera, and his lifelong fascination with pastel painting begins. In subsequent decades, he attempts through agents to purchase all available works by her hand. 1715 Carriera becomes acquainted in Venice with the French banker and collector Pierre Crozat, an eminent advisor to Regent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. She corresponds regularly with Crozat until his death in 1740. 1718 First meeting with the French collector Pierre-Jean Mariette during his Italian travels; the two form a close, lifelong friendship.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMyNjA1