GERMAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1830

Details

GERMAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1830
Charles II, Duke of Brunswick (1804-1873), in military uniform, blue coat with gold frogging, epaulettes, aiguillettes and gold-embroidered blue cloak over his left shoulder, wearing numerous orders including the sash of the Imperial Austrian Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, the cross of the Baden House Order of Fidelity, the cross and breast-star of the Grand-Ducal House Order of Louis (Hesse-Darmstadt), the cross and breast-star of the Royal Guelphic Order (military version), the badge and breast-star of the Baden Order of the Lion of Zähringen and the breast-star of the Royal Bavarian Order of Saint Hubert
oil on metal
oval, 3¾ in. (95 mm.) high, gilt-metal mount within rectangular ebonised wood frame applied with foliate hook

Provenance

Christie's, Geneva, 14 November 1989, lot 254.

Literature

G. Eberhard and B. Hofstetter, 'Miniatures et marché de l'art: De merveilleux objets à des prix encore abordables', Tribune des Arts, 11 April 1990, p. 19, illustrated.

Brought to you by

Emma Durkin

edurkin@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2609

Lot Essay

The sitter was the eldest son of Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Princess Marie of Baden. He inherited the Duchy in 1815, underage, but reached his majority in 1823. In 1830, rioting in Brunswick caused Charles to flee, but his brother William was welcomed joyfully by the people a few days later. Charles did not receive the support of any other European monarchs and as such, was unable to regain his Dukedom. He spent the rest of his life in Paris, London and Geneva. He left his considerable fortune to Geneva on condition that they built a memorial to him. Today, this is known as the Brunswick Monument.

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