Lawrence arrived in Vienna early in December 1818, and stayed there until the following May. His purpose was to complete a portrait of the Emperor Francis I and to paint Prince Schwarzenberg and other military leaders for the great series which is now in the Waterloo Chamber, Windsor Castle. He undertook several other commissions and made thirteen drawings which he listed in a letter to Joseph Farington from Rome, May 19th. The list includes the names of Princess Rasoumoffsy, Count and Countess Esterhazy and Countess Rosalie Rzewuska as well as that of Lady Selina. He was clearly in great demand. Lady Selina Meade (died 1872) was a daughter of the 2nd Earl of Clanwilliam and her brother, the 3rd Earl, was at this time of the Congress of Vienna, private secreatry to Castlereagh. She married General Count Clam-Martinics, A.D.C. General to the Emperor of Austria in 1821. While he was in Vienna Lawrence also painted the celebrated portrait of her holding a posy with the head inclined as in the drawing and the same shy smile, and with the spire of the Stefanskirche in the distance. He took this portrait with him when he went on to Rome and in a letter to J.J. Angerstein from Rome, May 23rd, he described Lady Selina as "in beauty and interesting character, one of the most distinguished persons in Vienna". His drawing of her is one of his most charming.

We are grateful to Dr Kenneth Garlick for his help in preparing this catalogue entry