Martin van Meytens (Stoccolma 1695 - Vienna 1770) e bottega
Francesco Stefano di Lorena, imperatore del Sacro Romano Impero (1708 - 1765)
Martin van Meytens (Stockholm 1695 - Vienna 1770), workshop of
Francis Stephen of Lorraine, Holy Roman Emperor (1708 - 1765)
Titles of the portrayed: Duke of Lorraine (1729-1736); Grand Duke of Tuscany (from 1737); official sovereign, with his wife Maria Theresa in the Habsburg monarchy (from 1740); Holy Roman Emperor (from 1745)
oil painting on canvas
cm. 91 x 71
with gold frame 108 x 88
Our gallery presents this beautiful portrait of the Austrian emperor Franz Stephen of Lorraine (1708-1765) which, for quality, style and subject, is attributable to the workshop of the court artist Martin van Maytens (Stockholm 1695 - Vienna 1770). Austrian naturalized Swedish painter, van Meytens is famous for being the official portraitist of the Viennese court during the heyday of the eighteenth century, portraying the Austrian emperor on numerous occasions.
The emblazoned Francis I, half-length portrait, is immortalized here with a very sumptuous gold brocade ceremonial dress and a cloak embroidered in gold lined with blue: the painting pays homage to his coronation as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. On his head a fluffy Spanish-style gala hat, in black felt adorned with turquoise blue ostrich feathers, with a diamond brooch in the center. Around his neck a lace jabot, which runs down the chest, ending with the knight's collar of the Knightly Order of the Golden Fleece.
Francesco Stefano di Lorena was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire with the name of Francis I from 1745 to his death. Former Duke of Lorraine from 1728 to 1737 with the name of Francesco III, he renounced the title by giving Lorraine to France, and in exchange buying the crown of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He married Maria Theresa of Austria in 1736, queen of Bohemia and Hungary, thus founding the House of the Habsburg-Lorraine, and with whom he had sixteen children, including the future emperors Joseph II and Leopold II and the queens Maria Carolina of Naples and Marie Antoinette of France. Together with his wife he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, which held the reins of Austria and the Habsburg hereditary states until the First World War.
For a comparison with similar portraits by Meytens, see the links to
- Kunsthistorischen Museum in Vienna: https: //www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/2237/
- Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest (Hungary) https://en.cathopedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_van_Meytens_-_Emperor_Francis_I_-_WGA15122.jpg
- London, Bonhams, 21 Apr 2009: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16729/lot/58/
- Vienna, Dorotheum 18 Dec 2017: https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/161026/
- Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace https://www.schoenbrunn.at/ueber-schoenbrunn/das-schloss/geschichte/baugeschichte-18-jahrhundert
The work is in excellent conservation conditions.
Martin van Meytens: biographical notes
He was born on June 16, 1695 in Stockholm.
In 1714 he went to England where he could study the portraiture of Anton van Dyck, a painter by whom he was certainly influenced.
In 1717 he obtained the first important commissions from August II of Poland, also derived from his great skill in portraiture and miniatures (works he also performed for Tsar Peter the Great).
In 1721 he moved to Vienna where he obtained commissions from the Emperor Charles VI, where he remained for two years and then left in 1723 for Italy.
In Italy van Meytens was in Venice, Rome, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Modena, Milan, Turin and Genoa. In particular during his Roman period he collaborated on works for Benedict XIII.
Starting from 1731 he was officially welcomed into the Viennese court, becoming court painter of the royal family starting from 1740 with the accession to the throne of Maria Theresa of Austria, who commissioned him eight official portraits during his life, centered on his person alone. In 1759 he was appointed Director of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.
He therefore remained in Vienna until March 23, 1770, the date of his death.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is completed by a pleasant gilded wooden frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.
We take care and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
It is also possible to see the painting in the Riva del Garda gallery, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works.
Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information.
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