The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Rosalba Carriera, 1737

pastel on paper, 1737
private collection

In 1737, Prince Charles Edward, the first-born son of James III/VIII and Clementina, took part in a politically significant journey, during which he visited the princely courts of northern Italy, as well as Venice. It was there that the most eminent pastel artist of the 18th century, Rosalba Carriera (1673–1757), lived and worked. We know from documentary sources that she painted a portrait of the young prince in the first week of June 1737, and that two copies of it were made, also in pastel.

A pastel, probably from Rosalba Carriera’s workshop, survives to this day, as does an oil version by Francesco Guardi. The exhibition features the original by Rosalba Carriera herself, whose artistic quality is far superior to the other surviving versions of this image.

Charles Edward’s portrait is a magnificent, expressive psychological study of the 16-year-old prince. His bright gaze exudes the confidence and energy of the sitter. Interestingly, his father did not like this portrait. Perhaps it was due to the difference in personality between father and son. James was serious, patient and stoic, whilst Prince Charles was charismatic, dynamic and impulsive. Did the king see something disturbing in this psychological portrait of his son, who would, soon after, embark on the last, tragic Jacobite uprising of 1745?