Rosalba Carriera’s Four Continents and the Commerce of Skin

Abstract

Rosalba Carriera’s Four Continents stand out from allegorical tradition for their unusual attention to facial complexion. Carriera’s approach owed much to the distinctive characteristics of her chosen medium. Pastel, because of its matte textures and refractive properties, was unusually suited to capturing the subtleties of skin. This essay considers how Carriera’s use of her medium interacted with growing European interest in global variation in skin color. While Carriera capitalized on nascent conceptions of racial difference, the exigencies of her medium and market also pushed her to represent qualities not yet prevalent in the discourse surrounding skin during the period.