Portrait of Francesca Gommi Marattic. 1701 · Study 2018.1

Context from the museum

In 1700 Carlo Maratti’s wife died, permitting him to marry his longtime mistress, Francesca Gommi, who began modeling for the artist in the 1670s and was the mother of his only child, Faustina. This painting was presumably painted shortly after the marriage as an homage from the artist to his new wife. To introduce an allegorical element into the composition, Maratti included a painting within a painting—in this case a drawing depicting Venus forging the love-darts of her adolescent son Cupid, suggesting that love will conquer all.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

The sitter holds a drawing representing Venus making Cupid's weapons, symbolizing the power of love to conquer all.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Portrait of Francesca Gommi Maratti is 74.5 cm wide and 98.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 29.3 × 38.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.76:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.73 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 24.8% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 112.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Portrait of Francesca Gommi Maratti in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 74.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?