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Lot Essay
The Empress of Austria was one of the great beauties of the day, and also one of the most famous horsewomen.
Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898) was the wife of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia. From an early age, she was called Sisi by family and friends. Captain William George "Bay" Middleton (1846-1892) was a noted English horseman. When the Empress of Austria hunted in Ireland, he was her pilot. The Empress visited England, arriving on 2 August 1874, where she met Earl Spencer. When she returned to England in 1876, she visited Lord Spencer at Althorp, and Bay Middleton was asked to "pilot" the Empress. She left England in February 1882 and never hunted in England or Ireland again. In the present painting the Empress is probably hunting with the Pytchley.
Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898) was the wife of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia. From an early age, she was called Sisi by family and friends. Captain William George "Bay" Middleton (1846-1892) was a noted English horseman. When the Empress of Austria hunted in Ireland, he was her pilot. The Empress visited England, arriving on 2 August 1874, where she met Earl Spencer. When she returned to England in 1876, she visited Lord Spencer at Althorp, and Bay Middleton was asked to "pilot" the Empress. She left England in February 1882 and never hunted in England or Ireland again. In the present painting the Empress is probably hunting with the Pytchley.