Renata Macchi, Woman in Blue, oil on canvas: An oil painting on canvas titled *Woman in Blue*, by the artist Renata Macchi. The profile portrait depicts a woman in ceremonial attire from the Qing Dynasty, characterized by rich symbolism and ornamental details. The subject wears a dark blue gown decorated with polychrome embroidery depicting floral motifs and dragonflies, finished with a brown fur collar. The figure is further embellished by a necklace of pearls and green stones and a dangling earring with turquoise stones and pearls. The most distinctive element is the elaborate diancui-style headdress, crafted from simulated kingfisher feathers, pearls, and turquoise-colored stones, featuring dragon and phoenix motifs typical of Chinese court aesthetics. The painting technique employs a contemporary realism with fluid brushstrokes for the skin tones and textured, raised strokes to simulate the texture of the jewelry and the headdress’s decorations. The background is rendered in a neutral gray tone with a subtle luminous gradient. The work is executed on unframed, stretched canvas.
40 x 70 cm.
