A Young Woman Fixing Her Hair

Art Historical Context

Domenico Maggiotto's *A Young Woman Fixing Her Hair (c. 1745) is a delicate drawing that captures a moment of intimate beauty from the Venetian Rococo era. Created with black, white, and chalks on blue laid paper—now faded to a warm tan—this 37.5 x 28.1 cm study exemplifies the artist's skill in rendering soft textures and subtle light effects. Maggiotto, a prominent 18th-century Venetian draughtsman influenced by masters like Giovanni Battista Piazzetta and Giambattista Tiepolo, often produced such figure studies that blend elegance with everyday grace. The three-chalk technique here is masterful: the blue paper serves as a middle tone, allowing white highlights to illuminate the woman's luminous skin and flowing hair, while black and red chalks deepen shadows and add warmth to her features. This method, popular among Venetian artists, created vibrant, three-dimensional effects ideal for preparatory sketches or standalone works appreciated for their immediacy and sensuality. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Department of Drawings (CG-E) through the bequest of Lore Heinemann in memory of her husband, Dr. Rudolf J. Heinemann, this piece offers a glimpse into 18th-century Venice's fascination with feminine poise and Rococo refinement, inviting viewers to savor its timeless charm.