Portrait of Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra  1750

Batoni was particularly famous for his portraits and had many elite clients, such as Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra (1708-65), who was a member of a great Roman noble family. The cardinal can be identified by the letter he holds, which is addressed to him. The red color of the clothing of his ecclesiastic office produces an imposing effect against the dark background...