5/5/25 – Acquisition – Paris, Louvre museum – So let’s start with Casanova: ” During supper, my main occupation was to study Silvia, who enjoyed the greatest reputation: I judged her above all that was published. She was about fifty years old, elegant size, noble air, wealthy, affable, laughing, laughing in her words, obliging for everyone, filled with spirit and without the slightest air of pretension. Her figure was an enigma, because she inspired a lively interest, pleased everyone; And despite this, on the exam, she did not have a single beautiful marked trait; It could not be said that it was beautiful; But no one had noted to find it ugly. ». Xavier Salmon, who quoted this passage in his rich monograph “Maurice Quentin de la Tour. The absolute eye “published in June 2024 with Cohen & Cohen, was barely more direct when he also wrote that his face with male features never served it. We can only share his opinion by discovering pastel (ill. 1) Freshly acquired by the Louvre graphic arts department.
- 1. Maurice Quentin de la Tour (1704-1788)
Zanetta Rosa Giovanna Benozzi Silvia tells1751
Pastel on two sheets of blue paper with a strip of paper hiding
The joint, marouflaged on canvas stretched on chassis – 66.5 x 56.4 cm
Paris, Louvre museum
Photo : RMN-GP/T. Clot
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Image of women and not of the famous 18th century actress, as Xavier Salmon writes, both director of the department and specialist in pastel, this work shows us Silvia ” Dressed in a fashionable dress, a yellow tone decorated with knots, frozen ribbons and a sowing of small squares, all of blue, the wig stung with blue and white silk flowers “: We immediately distinguish the hand from the man who was nicknamed the prince of pastellists. Little known, and even a priori never exposed since …
