 |
| Nicolas de Largillière Portrait of Field Marshall Erik Sparre before 1726 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Louis de Sylvestre Portrait of Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland ca. 1720-30 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Jean Ranc Portrait of a Lady as Pomona before 1735 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
As one who soon must lose the precious food
Which used to be the sole stay of her life,
Will help herself to more than was her custom
Whenever it is placed before her eyes,
Just so my soul, before this bitter parting
Foretelling so prolonged and harsh a fast,
Takes to herself more nourishment than ever
Hoping to bear the absence soon to come.
Therefore, my eager eyes, gaze without moving,
More than you used, to drink in your reward,
The dear and lovely face of your belovèd;
And ears, more than you ever used to do,
Wait on his words, for even paradise
Cannot produce a lovelier harmony.
 |
| Antoine Pesne Portrait of Adolf Fredrik, King of Sweden 1743 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Antoine Pesne Portrait of Charlotta Fredrika Sparre as La Folie 1744 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Donat Nonotte Portrait of Charlotta Fredrika Sparre as Vestal Virgin ca. 1730-40 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Jacques Aved Portrait of Count Carl Gustaf Tessin before 1766 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of the Marquise de Broglie as a Sultana before 1766 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
Place me where ocean breaks with angry roar,
Or where the waters lie serene and calm,
Place me wherever sun shoots sparks that scorch
Or where the ice pierces with sharpest pain,
Place me beside the frozen Don, by Ganges
Where the sweet dew and manna are distilled,
Or where the bitter air sparkles with poison,
Wherever people laugh and cry for love.
Place me where cruel, heartless Scythians strike,
Or where the people live in peace and quiet,
Or where one lives and dies, too soon, too late –
I shall live as I've lived, be what I've been,
As long as my two faithful stars still shine
And will not turn their light away from me.
 |
| François-Hubert Drouais Portrait of the artist's father, Hubert Drouais before 1767 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| follower of François-Hubert Drouais Portrait of an unknown girl before 1775 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Jean-Baptiste Greuze Portrait of a Lady as the Nymph Callisto ca. 1775 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun Portrait of Ernestine Frédérique, Princesse de Croy ca. 1780-85 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Hugues Taraval Portrait of an unknown girl before 1785 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
 |
| Louis Gauffier Portrait of Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt in Florence 1793 oil on canvas Nationalmuseum, Stockholm |
– sonnets are by Gaspara Stampa (1523-1554), from Selected Poems, translated by Laura Anna Stortoni and Mary Prentice Lillie (New York: Italica Press, 1994)