" Princess Kotschoubey "FX Winterhalter (1805-1873)

Franz Xaver Winterhalter (St. Blasien 1805- Frankfurt 1873) "Princess Kotschoubey" This extraordinary female portrait is the work of the famous German master FX Winterhalter, one of the greatest court painters in post-Napoleonic Europe. It is a splendid representation of the Ukrainian princess Kotschoubey, residing in a majestic palace in Nice on the French Riviera, then an important Russian colony. The painting portrays the princess at a young age (she will be immortalized later in 1860 dressed in black in a famous painting by Winterhalter now in the Baltimore museum - see photo), and presents itself in all its exceptional beauty with a glitz of lights and colors hardly equal. The outdoor context rather than a monochrome background, is unusual for W. and we find it with the same characteristics in his most extraordinary works. (See some examples) Describing the painting is really difficult because it is rich in virtuosity and dazzling nuances. The beautiful original frame of the painting measures 170 x 145. --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Franz Xaver Winterhalter (Menzenschwand, April 20, 1805 - Frankfurt am Main, July 8, 1873) was one of the most important German painters of the 19th century. He worked in numerous European courts, such as Karlsruhe, Paris, London, Prague and Moscow, performing grandiose portraits of rulers, such as the one for King Louis Philippe of France in 1839 (in Versailles) or the one for Queen Victoria with her family in 1842 at Windsor Castle. He also painted three very famous portraits of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) and Empress Eugenie of France had herself portrayed in the guise of Queen Marie Antoinette. Winterhalter is famous for his mastery of faithfully rendering all the folds and tactile characteristics of clothes and hairstyles on canvas. His works are exhibited in numerous international museums. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- FIMA certificate of authenticity