Portrait of the Singer Giuditta Pasta in the Stage Costume of “Nina or the Girl Driven Mad by Love”

Giuseppe Molteni

Download hi-res image TITLE Portrait of the Singer Giuditta Pasta in the Stage Costume of “Nina or the Girl Driven Mad by Love”
AUTHOR Giuseppe Molteni
DATE 1829
OBJECT TYPE AND MATERIAL Oil on canvas
TECNICA OPERA olio su tela
DIMENSIONS cm 114 x 95
INVENTORY 7476
ROOM XXXVII
Work on display

The celebrated soprano is shown here in the guise of Nina, the leading lady in Paisiello’s semi-serious drama. Molteni, already well-known for his work as a restorer and connoisseur of old master works, vied with Hayez for the limelight in exhibitions at Brera and for the most prized commissions with his portraits. He enriched his paintings with elegant furnishings but was also capable of reproducing precious jewels and clothing, and showed no compunction in embellishing his sitters’ features.