Francesca Ghirardi Lechi (1773–1806) 1789 - 1841

Giovanni Battista Gigola painted this portrait miniature of Francesca Ghirardi Lechi, around the turn of the 19th century. It’s made using watercolor on ivory. The smooth surface shows Gigola’s mastery of miniature painting, a delicate technique often favored for personal keepsakes. But let's consider the material itself: ivory. In this era, ivory was sourced through extensive trade networks, often involving exploitation and colonial power dynamics. The labor needed to obtain and prepare the ivory, then paint it with precision, speaks volumes about the social context of luxury and privilege. It’s easy to miss the material story, focusing instead on the sitter’s beauty and the artist’s skill. Yet, the very substance of the artwork is inseparable from broader economic and social issues of the time. This challenges our perception, intertwining fine art with the realities of labor, politics, and consumption.