Patrician Family

Patrician Family

Artwork Type: Painting

Artwork Description: The artwork is titled "Patrician Family" and was created by Pietro Longhi in 1752. It is a painting and is currently housed in the Museum of 18th-century Venice. The painting depicts a Venetian patrician family in a domestic setting. The family members are dressed in formal attire and are engaged in various activities, such as reading, playing with a dog, and conversing. The painting is a valuable historical document as it provides a glimpse into the lives of the Venetian upper class during the 18th century.

Artwork Date: 1752

Institution Name: Museum of 18th-century Venice

Artwork Size: 0.51 meters wide x 0.61 meters high

Author Name: Pietro Longhi

Description: The painting portrays a large family gathered in a stately interior. The adults are elegantly dressed in the fashion of the time, the men in frock coats and breeches, the women in elaborate gowns with lace and ribbons. A sense of affluence and refinement permeates the scene.

At the center, a woman in a shimmering white dress holds court, perhaps the matriarch of the family. She engages with a child dressed in blue, while another child in a pink dress stands beside her. To her right, an older gentleman in a powdered wig gestures expansively. On the left, a young man in a red coat stands with his hand on the shoulder of a woman seated beside him.

Two other figures, a man holding a baby and another man in profile, appear in the background, suggesting a bustling household with multiple generations present. A small dog at the feet of the seated woman adds a touch of domesticity to the scene. The muted color palette and soft lighting contribute to the overall sense of elegance and tranquility.