A Lady receiving a Cavalier
- Artist: Pietro Longhi
- Date: 1745-55
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Lady receiving a Cavalier" by Pietro Longhi, painted in the mid 18th century. The scene we see here shows a moment of gallantry and domestic life - two maids at the left work at an embroidery frame, while the elegantly dressed lady of the house welcomes a dashing gentleman.
The gentleman, or cavalier, places his hand on his heart as he bows from the waist, while the lady lightly fans herself. They lean towards each other, their heads held close together, and it seems like their conversation is private. The scene has a charming atmosphere, reminiscent of contemporary opera buffa performances in Venice.
If we look closely at the background, we see a painting of Diana, the chaste goddess of hunting, surrounded by cupids decorating a nude sculpture - possibly of Pan, the garden god associated with sexuality. This could be seen as an allusion to the chastity of the woman in the foreground and the amorous intentions of her companion.
The artist's use of colour is subtle here, but we see flashes of pink from the lady's floral brooch and gold from the gentleman's jacket. Longhi was known for his simple interior scenes that showed the private lives of the wealthy, and this painting is a great example of his style.
See it in person
A Lady receiving a Cavalier hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
