Portrait of the Famous Singer (soprano) Caterina Gabrielli as Diana 1751

Curator: Here we have Pompeo Batoni's oil on canvas from 1751, a portrait of Caterina Gabrielli titled "Portrait of the Famous Singer (soprano) Caterina Gabrielli as Diana". Quite a mouthful, isn't it? Editor: It is! My first impression is...intriguing. There's a formality, obviously, a sense of staged elegance. But also a little theatrical wink. Is that a dead rabbit at her feet? Bit morbid. Curator: The rabbit is indeed part of the traditional iconography of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt. It represents her dominion over wild animals and the hunt itself. The crescent moon adornment in her hair is a more direct reference to her as well. The portrait is, of course, not *just* of Diana. The celebrated soprano Caterina Gabrielli is cleverly posing as the mythological figure. Editor: Ah, layering! I see. It's like Batoni's playing with public persona, right? La Gabrielli, already famous for her stage presence, now gets immortalized as an actual goddess! Does it hint at how women in opera at the time were elevated into mythic creatures? I bet it's a knowing comment about fame, even back then. Curator: It speaks to the aspirations of the time, definitely. By aligning Gabrielli with Diana, Batoni invokes not only her beauty and talent but also the goddess’s perceived independence, and power. She’s in control, see? A hunter, not hunted. Note, as well, the details of her clothing—Batoni has placed her in flowing drapery, a timeless stylistic reference meant to heighten her idealized image. Editor: Absolutely. There's a strange tension, though, for me. A 'wild huntress' with perfectly styled hair and not a single speck of dirt! It feels so…civilized. It’s as though she's daring us to believe in her ferocity. Curator: I agree. It is very much a Baroque sensibility at play, an attempt to merge classical ideals with a very contemporary sitter. Remember, this painting was made during the Grand Tour period, with educated Northerners looking to the Mediterranean as the font of art and style. This style certainly was trying to meet expectations! Editor: The more I look, the more I find. It is beautiful—a moment of calculated, almost sly, performance. It seems everyone's in on the joke: Batoni, La Gabrielli, even Diana, looking down from Mount Olympus. I wonder what Gabrielli felt playing into this eternal image? Curator: An interesting question! By engaging with potent symbols, Batoni crafted a portrait that exists on multiple planes: as a likeness of a renowned singer, a nod to classical mythology, and a commentary on celebrity itself. Editor: Well, thanks! Now, I'll look at staged portraits in a slightly different light...or moonlight...