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Lot Essay
The companion piece to this miniature, depicting Johann Nepomuk Ernst Count Harrach (1756-1829), also from the Holzscheiter collection, was sold Sothebys, London, 28 March 1977, lot 75. The 1986 auction catalogue mis-identified the sitter of the present miniature as the same Count, despite the apparent lack of resemblance. It is more likely that the present miniature depicts one of Johann's three brothers, either Ernst Christoph Josef Count Harrach (1757-1838), Karl Borromäus (1761-1829) or Ferdinand Josef (1763-1841).
The Harrach family and their relatives were important clients of Füger; he also painted miniatures of Franz Josef Count Wilczek who was married to Johann Nepomuk's sister Maria Josefa Countess Harrach (sold Christie's, Geneva, 25 May 1993, lot 177) and of Anna Countess Taaffe, née Harrach (Holzscheiter Collection, illustrated in H. Rieben, Bildnisminiaturen, Berne, 1951, pl. XVIII).
The Harrach family and their relatives were important clients of Füger; he also painted miniatures of Franz Josef Count Wilczek who was married to Johann Nepomuk's sister Maria Josefa Countess Harrach (sold Christie's, Geneva, 25 May 1993, lot 177) and of Anna Countess Taaffe, née Harrach (Holzscheiter Collection, illustrated in H. Rieben, Bildnisminiaturen, Berne, 1951, pl. XVIII).