Franz Xaver Winterhalter

FRANZ XAVER WINTERHALTER (Germany, 1805-1873).
"Eugenia, Viscountess Esher, née Mayer (1814-1904)," 1852.
Oil on canvas. Restored
Signed and dated to the left of the composition next to the shoulder.
It is mentioned in his book on page 385 under the reference W.F.X Vicomtesse Esther.
Measurements: 65.5 x 54 cm; 89 x 83 cm (frame).

This portrait of Eugenie, Viscountess Esher, née Mayer (1814-1904) exemplifies the superb technique enjoyed by the painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter, who was known for his ethereal and idealized portraits of European royalty, influenced by Rococo and Neoclassical painting. The lady protagonist, in a half-and-three-quarter length frame, stands aloof and serene with her dark, somewhat melancholy eyes. She wears an impressive three-row pearl necklace around her neck, which she gently touches with her left hand. The pearly flesh tones are lightly swirled on the cheeks. The oval face is long, stylized and denotes aristocratic haughtiness. The dress, made of silk, combines shades of gold, white and blue, reflecting Winterhalter's preferred palette for highlighting the tactile, lustrous qualities of fabrics. Puffed sleeves reinforce the richness of the wardrobe. The outlined lips, combined with a sharp nose and large, dark eyes, underscore the model's unique character.

Franz Xaver Winterhalter was a celebrated German painter whose success led him to receive commissions to paint Empress Eugenie, Princess Leonilla and Queen Victoria, among others. However, he is most commonly associated with his depictions of Elisabeth "Sissi", Empress of Austria. He trained at the Munich Academy of Arts with the painter Peter von Cornelius. He worked as a drawing master for Sophie Margavine of Baden and shortly thereafter served as court painter to King Louis Philippe of France. He also trained as a draughtsman and lithographer in the workshop of Karl Ludwig Schüler in Freiburg im Breisgau. Winterhalter entered court circles when in 1828 he became drawing master to Sophie Margravine of Baden in Karlsruhe. His opportunity to establish himself beyond southern Germany came in 1832, when he was able to travel to Italy between 1833 and 1834 with the support of Grand Duke Leopold of Baden. In 1841, Winterhalter served as the official court painter to Queen Victoria, producing a series of images of the queen and her family that were distributed throughout Britain. His work is now in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.