Manner of Rosalba Carriera

Barbara Campanini, or 'La Barberina', was an Italian ballerina famous for both her love affairs and her brilliant dance technique. After making her debut in 1739 at the Paris Opera she appeared in ballets across Europe, and from 1744-1748 danced at the Berlin Court Opera where she was believed to have become the mistress of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Her noterity continued through the centuries and in 1935 her life became the subject of a ballet by Mandrik entitled 'Die Barberina'.

The original Carriera pastel of La Barberina hangs in Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.