Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche

Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche by Giuseppe Cades: The woman portrayed in the oval has not yet been identified, but she…

What to notice

In Portrait of a Lady with an Elaborate Cartouche, start with classical, portrait, figurative. Then look closely at this museum-described detail: Increasing her distinction, the flying male nudes personify Victory and Fame, while the crown, that of an English viscountess, indicates her nobility.

Discover

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…