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# 26182
Moritz Michael Daffinger "Franz Joseph I in Age of 16 Years", Outstanding Watercolor!!, 1845/46
Price: ON REQUEST
(please note additional 10% tax applies for transactions concluded within the European Union)
The whereabouts of this, one of the most important works of Moritz Michael Daffinger with a portrait of the young Archduke Franz (1830-1916; future Kaiser Franz Josef I of Austria) was unknown for over 60 Years, since the last publication in the artist's monography by Emil Pirchan ("Moritz Michael Daffinger. Miniaturmaler des Vormaerz", Vienna, 1943, Plate 49; see also our additional image # 12).
Since we found this watercolor in the New York Auction House "Doyle New York" (21st January 2004, Lot 10 as a portrait of an unknown young officer), we assume that the portrait was acquired in Vienna after 1945 by an American stationed in the Austrian Capital back then.
The portrait was painted by Daffinger upon commission of Franz's mother Archduchess Sophie presumably between end of 1845/begin of 1846. Already in March 1846 Chancellor Metternich's wife, Princess Melanie writes in her diary: "Archduchess Sophie sent me some days ago a portrait of the young Archduke Franz for my collection…" (see our image # 13 with illustration from the book of Georg Kugler "Chancellor Metternich and his guests", Edition Styria, Graz-Vienna-Cologne, 1991, Plate 134; see also our image nr.15 with the same replica which was sold on 4 May 2012 in Paris). This second replica is a smaller one (18x14cm) and is signed, dated and titled: Daffinger. E(rz)h(erzog) Franz, Oberst, den 3. März 1846 (later from another hand changed to 1845)
Both variations show the 16 years old Franz in uniform of Oberst (colonel) of the Dragoon Regiment no. 3 with the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Star of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle.
Moritz Michael Daffinger (1790 Vienna -1849 ibidem) is considered truly the best Austrian portrait miniature painter of all times. He was born as son of the porcelain painter Johann Daffinger, began at the age of 11 years as apprentice at the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory where he studied under Fueger's pupil Michael Weixelbaum. From 1802 he studied at the Vienna Academy under Huber and Maurer. Simultaneously he was one of the best porcelain painters at the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory. Especially popular were his portraits of the Austrian royal family and courtiers, painted on plates, cups and vases. Around 1809 he began to paint portraits on ivory. During the time of the Vienna Congress, Daffinger was already a requested and very appreciated portraitist. The presence of the English portraitist Thomas Lawrence in Vienna during the Congress influenced his art remarkably. Already in the early 1820's Daffinger was portraitist of the royal family and the main noble families of Austria. Works by him can be found in the most important world museum collections and achieve at the international art market very high prices (up to USD 150,000).
Condition: good, in biedermeier gilded frame. Matted and framed. Unframed measurements refer to mat size. Image: 17 x 12,1 cm
Creation Year: 1845/46
Measurements:UNFRAMED:24,0x18,5cm/9,4x7,3in FRAMED: 34,0x26,3cm/13,4x10,4in
Object Type:Portrait miniature
Style: Portrait Miniatures
Technique: watercolor on card (painted in oval)
Inscription:signed right: Daffinger and titled lower middle: E(rz)h(erzog) Franz
Creator: Moritz Michael Daffinger
Creator Dates: 1790 Vienna-1849 Vienna
Nationality:Austrian
- 2-3 days door-to-door shipment, professionally packed by Mail Boxes Etc and shipped with DHL (calculated for US):
118,76 EUR + insurance 1,8% of item price
Shipping cost to other destinations (worldwide) on request
Shipping price may be reduced if you dispense with the frame - Cheaper alternative (may be further reduced if you dispense with the frame): professionally packed by Mail Boxes Etc and shipped with regular Austrian mail - upon request under office@wilnitsky.com (OBS: In this case maximal refunded insurance value is EUR 500 if shipping destination was the US. In Europe sometimes more, depending on destination.)
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