Among the most influential artists of the early 18th century, Rosalba Carriera was renowned for pioneering the use of pastels in portraiture. The Venetian-born artist began her career designing lace for her mother before moving to decorate snuff boxes and then made her name as a miniature painter. Her studio soon became a popular destination along the “Grand Tour” through Italy, with tourists clamoring for portraits in delicate watercolors, and later her trademark elegant pastel portraits. Her innovative techniques created lively and flattering portraits, attracting prominent European patrons such as Louis XV and Augustus III of Poland. Carriera’s success earned her membership in prestigious art academies, marking her as a leading and groundbreaking figure in European art of her time who helped to define the Rococo style.