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# 35943
C.Hummel de Bourdon "Count Eugen Wratislaw von Mitrowitz", outstanding miniature!!, 1816
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Highest quality large miniature with a portrait of a relative young Austrian senior (golden galloon on the sleeve, scarf under the schoulder-belt) officer wearing uhlan uniform and bearing insignies of two awards - a Knight Cross of Austrian Order of Leopold and Austrian Officer Canon Cross of 1813-1814 (for participant of anti-Napoleonic Liberation Wars). Acquired on 27th June 2001 at Munich auction house "Neumeister" this very important (signed and dated 1816) work by one of the best Austrian portrait miniaturists of the begin of the 19th century Carl Hummel de Bourdon eleven years later, on 4th February 2012 obtained sitter's name.
Our friend and permanent advisor, well-known uniformologist and author of numerous publications on Napoleonica, Dr. Dimitri Gorchkoff (Moscow) examined all officer lists of Austrian Army for period of 1815-1817 and among senior officers found only 8 persons possessing to that time only two mentioned above awards and nothing else. In cases of four of them Dr. Gorckoff found corresponding portraits - absolutely another faces. From four remaining three also dropped off: infantry officer, artillery officer and officer of Engineers. And only one was connected with uhlans; it was (from summer 1815) an officer of General Staff, responsible for uhlan regiments. His name: Lieutenant-Colonel Eugen Count Wratislaw von Mitrowitz-Nettolitzky (1786-1867).
Eugen Count Wratislaw von Mitrowitz-Nettolitzky was born im 1786 in Wischpol, Bohemia (now Vici Pole, Czech Republic) and died in 1867 in Vienna. In 1804 as a Lieutenant he joined the Austrian Ulna Regiment "Graf Merveldt", in 1805 (promoted to Oberlieutenant) was transferred to Hussar Regiment "Blankenstein" and in ranks of this unit fought against Napoleon in the campaigns of 1805-1809 (participating a. o. in the battle of Wagram). In 1809 Archduke Carl raised him to Rittmeister (cavalry Captain). He left military service for a few years but in 1813 came back to his regiment and fought in the Barttle of Leipzig. In December 1813 he was promoted to Major of Hussar Regiment "Archduke Ferdinand". In summer 1815 he became Colonel-Lieutenant (obviously at the same time attached to General Staff) and in March of 1816 (sic!) was appointed commander of newly-founded 4th Uhlan Regiment (we are certain that our portrait was made just after this nomination!!). He remained in this function only a few months and still in (late?) 1816 was replaced by Colonel Johann Count von Klebelsberg (probably he returned to General Staff afterwards). In 1820 he obtained rank of a Colonel, Major-General in 1830 and Lieutenant-Field-Marshal and member of Hofkriegsrat (Court Military Council) in 1835. In 1840 he was appointed Adjutant-General of Kaiser Ferdinand and received the title of privy councilor. In 1847 he obtained highest Austrian award - Order of Golden Fleece. In 1848 he commanded the 1st Corps in Italy, became General of Cavalry in 1849 and Field-Marshal in 1854 (in the same year he became Captain of Arcieren-Leibgarde (Court Guards)). Besides all that, in 1855 he became Chancellor of the Military Order of Maria Theresa.
We found his lithographic portrait (see image nr.8) showing him as a General of Cavalry in 1849/50, thirty three years after our portrait was made - nevertheless one can see a great physiognomic resemblance.
See also images nr.9-10 with his extensive biography (from "Biographisches Lexikon des Kaisertums Österreich" by Constantin von Wurzbach).
Carl Hummel de Bourdon (ca.1769 - 1840 Vienna) possibly worked for a short time in Hungary. He became painter to Alexandra Pavlovna, Tsar Paul I's daughter and wife of Archduke Joseph, Vice-King of Hungary. Later he settled down in Vienna. Schidlof says he was a very good miniaturist, certainly influenced by Isabey.
Our additional image shows a stylistic similar portrait by Hummel of Prince Karl von Schwarzenberg from the same year 1816 (Historical City Museum, Vienna).
We are very grateful to Dr. Dimitri Gorchkoff for generous help.
mifeb08ap12
Condition: good, in a magnificent original Empire frame.
Creation Year: 1816
Measurements:UNFRAMED:13,9x10,0cm/5,5x3,9in FRAMED: 30,2x27,2cm/11,9x10,7in
Object Type:Framed miniature
Style: Portrait miniatures
Technique: watercolor on card
Inscription:signed and dated: hummel /1816
Creator: Carl Ludwig Hummel de Bourdon
Creator Dates: ca.1769-1840 Vienna
Nationality:Austrian
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