Painter and miniaturist plunged into the major artistic circles of Venice and Dresden, known throughout Europe for the empathy and delicacy of her pastels.
Felicita Sartori (1714-1760) was a successful painter and miniaturist.
At the age of fourteen she was invited to the studio of her uncle, the painter Antonio Dall’Agata, to admire some drawings; on this occasion she had the opportunity to meet Rosalba Carriera, a painter and close friend of her uncle, who was so struck by the enthusiasm of the young woman that she offered her an introduction to painting in exchange for help with household chores in her Venetian home. It was the beginning of a lasting affective and professional bond, so that Rosalba became her undisputed point of reference. In Venice she became a friend and confidante of Marianna Carlevaris, daughter of the painter Luca, and of Giovanna Messini from Florence, both members of the circle of Rosalba Carriera.
She was introduced to the technique of engraving in 1734 and she reached such a level of professionalism that she was included in the list of Copper Carvers.
In 1737 Luisa Bergalli – Venetian poet, playwright and translator – sent to Rosalba Carriera two portraits, begging the “very kind Ms. Felicita” to make engravings of them. Her stay at Carriera house was fruitful and marked by constant progress, especially in the technique of pastel. In the same year she asked her teacher if she could invite her sister Angioletta, who was also interested in the artistic career. In 1739 she received a visit from Federico Cristiano, prince-elector of Saxony, son of Frederick Augustus II who had ascended the throne the year before with the name of Augustus III and his adviser – elderly man, of poor beauty and precarious health – Franz Joseph von Hoffmann, who immediately fell in love with the painter; his courtship was so assiduous to convince the prince not only to buy some of her pastels, but to offer her employment in the court of Dresden. Two years of attempts had to pass to convince Felicita to get married and thus to leave the Venetian studio (and her teacher); after Hoffmann’s death, Felicita Sartori married his nephew with whom she went to live in Bamberg. She never returned to Venice, she died in Dresden in 1760 when she was only 46 years old.
Of her face remains the presumed portrait, a pastel kept at the Uffizi Gallery entitled “Portrait of a lady in Turkish costume”, made by the affectionate teacher Rosalba.
The numerous works of the painter from Sacile, together with those of Rosalba Carriera, today form the famous collection of pastels and miniatures of the Gemaldegalerie of Dresden.
“… Her works are very valuable and very dear to those who have … Whoever had the opportunity to converse with her had reason to be impressed not less by her virtue than by her politeness.”
(P. Guarienti)
