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Invention
Angelica Kauffmann·1779
Historical Context
This 1779 painting of Invention is one of the allegorical figures Kauffmann created for the Royal Academy ceiling at Somerset House. The personification of artistic invention reflected the Academy's emphasis on creative imagination as the foundation of great art. Kauffmann's refined oil handling favored cool, clear colors and gracefully elongated figures that drew on classical sculpture and Raphael's serene compositions, executed with a smooth, controlled touch that avoided all painterly...
Technical Analysis
The decorative allegory demonstrates Kauffmann's ability to create visually compelling personifications suited to architectural settings. The artist's command of composition and surface quality reflects years of disciplined practice and keen artistic sensibility.
See It In Person
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Edward Smith Stanley (1752–1834), Twelfth Earl of Derby, Elizabeth, Countess of Derby (Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, 1753–1797), and Their Son (Edward Smith Stanley, 1775–1851)
Angelica Kauffmann·ca. 1776
