Franz Xaver Winterhalter,1805 Menzenschwand/Black Forest - 1873 Frankfurt am Main

PORTRAIT OF EUGENIE, VISCOUNTESS ESHER, NÉE MAYER (1814 - 1904)
Oil on canvas. Old doubling.
65.4 x 54 cm (in portrait oval).
Signed, inscribed and dated "F Winterhalter. Paris 1852.".
In high oval, gilded magnificent frame.

Against a neutral beige background, lightening from bottom to top, the enchanting half-portrait of the young woman, with an imposing three-row pearl necklace around her neck, which she delicately touches with her left hand. She is also wearing a bracelet with pearls around her wrist and a ring. She is wearing an elegant, almost shoulderless dress that falls downwards and is adorned with an arm bow and delicate lace. Her head, with its well coiffed black hair parted in the middle, is slightly tilted and her dark eyes gaze gracefully out of the picture. Winterhalter, known for his portraits of the European aristocracy, captures the elegance and timeless sophistication of his subject with fine detail and careful depiction.

Provenance:
Christie's, December 15, 2022, lot 151.
William Balliol Brett, 1st Viscount Esher (1815-1899).

Annotation:
Baliol Brett's elevation to the peerage as Lord Esher did not occur until 1885 and therefore the painting was originally known as Portrait of Mrs. Baliol Brett. The portrait was also exhibited under this title at the Royal Academy in London in 1853 (no. 96) and was thus one of the only three portraits exhibited by Winterhalter at the Royal Academy. (1410602) (18)



Franz Xaver Winterhalter,
1805 Menzenschwand/ Black Forest - 1873 Frankfurt on the Main

PORTRAIT OF EUGENIE, VISCOUNTESS ESHER, NÉE MAYER (1814 - 1904)

Oil on canvas. Old relining.
In upright oval: 65.4 x 54 cm.
Signed, place name and dated "F Winterhalter. Paris 1852." at center left.
In upright oval, magnificent gilt frame.

Provenance:
Christie's, 15 December 2022, lot 151.
William Balliol Brett, 1st Viscount Esher (1815-1899).

Notes:
Balliol Brett's was not elevated into peerage as Lord Esher until 1885 and so the painting was originally known as Portrait of Mrs Balliol Brett. The portrait was also exhibited under this title in 1853 at the Royal Academy in London (no. 96), making it one of only three portraits that Winterhalter exhibited at the Royal Academy.