A portrait by renowned Venetian artist Rosalba Carriera has made art auction history, selling for an extraordinary £508,000 at Cheffins auction house in Cambridge. The sale price represents more than 20 times the painting's original estimate and establishes a new world record for works by Carriera, who died in 1757.

The artwork, which depicts Coulson Fellowes who served as Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire from 1741 to 1761, had been conservatively estimated to sell for between £15,000 and £25,000. The remarkable final price of £508,000 was achieved through a telephone bid from a private collector based in the United Kingdom. This marks the first time the portrait has appeared at auction since it was originally painted 301 years ago.

Created in 1724, the portrait was meticulously documented in Carriera's personal diary when Fellowes visited her Venetian studio as a young man, years before he would enter Parliament. Fellowes was the son of William Fellowes, a barrister from Eggesford in Devon. The painting captures the subject in his youth, showcasing Carriera's exceptional skill in pastel portraiture that made her one of the most sought-after artists of her era.

The portrait remained within the Fellowes family collection at Shotesham Park near Norwich until the estate was sold following the death of Major Charles Fellowes in 1979. Despite the sale of the property, the artwork continued to be held by family members until this recent auction. This provenance adds significant historical value to an already remarkable piece of 18th-century art.

Rosalba Carriera was considered one of the most fashionable and talented artists of her time, creating portraits of numerous notable figures including King Louis XV of France, English author Horace Walpole, and French painter Antoine Watteau. Her exceptional body of work is represented in major international collections, including the Louvre in Paris, The National Gallery in London, The Frick Collection in New York, and other prestigious galleries worldwide.

The previous auction record for a Carriera painting was £421,250, achieved in 2002 for a portrait of Irish soldier and politician Gustavus Hamilton sold in New York. The recent sale has significantly surpassed this benchmark, reflecting the growing appreciation for Carriera's artistic contributions and the rarity of her works appearing at auction.

Luke Bodalbhai from Cheffins auction house praised the Fellowes painting, stating that it perfectly demonstrates Carriera's "talent as one of the leading lights of 18th Century portraiture." The extraordinary sale price confirms the enduring appeal and historical significance of Carriera's work, particularly pieces with such impeccable provenance and documentation. Carriera, known for her innovative pastel techniques and psychological depth in portraiture, created several self-portraits during her lifetime that further showcase her artistic evolution and mastery of the medium.