Lot Essay
Countess Henriette Danneskiold-Samsoe, born on 9 May 1806, was married to Prince Frederick-Ernest-Augustus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderborg-Augustenborg in 1829. Her husband married secondly an American, Mary-Esther Lee of New York. This obliged him to abandon his rank and title, but Emperor Francis-Joseph of Austria styled him Prince of Noer in 1864.
Caroline Steltzner executed several portraits of members of this family. Torben Holck Colding (Miniature- og Emaillemaleri i Danmark, Aalborg, 1991, p. 166, fig. 488-491) illustrates miniatures by Caroline Steltzner depicting the sitter's mother, her mother-in-law, her sister, and her nephews and nieces. As most of these miniatures, the present example seems to have been painted in Augustenborg. Colding also mentions another portrait of Princess Henriette by Caroline Steltzner, in the Kunsthalle, Kiel.
Caroline Steltzner executed several portraits of members of this family. Torben Holck Colding (Miniature- og Emaillemaleri i Danmark, Aalborg, 1991, p. 166, fig. 488-491) illustrates miniatures by Caroline Steltzner depicting the sitter's mother, her mother-in-law, her sister, and her nephews and nieces. As most of these miniatures, the present example seems to have been painted in Augustenborg. Colding also mentions another portrait of Princess Henriette by Caroline Steltzner, in the Kunsthalle, Kiel.