Items Similar to Russian Princess Olga Gorchakov - 19th Century Portrait, Oil on Canvas
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15
Elise HügelRussian Princess Olga Gorchakov - 19th Century Portrait, Oil on Canvas1858
1858
$2,625.93
£1,959.35
€2,200
CA$3,661.73
A$4,012.73
CHF 2,095.53
MX$48,222.02
NOK 26,197.77
SEK 24,708.67
DKK 16,748.96
About the Item
Portrait of Princess Olga Gorchakov by female 19th century artist Elise Hügel.
An oval portrait of Princess Olga Gortschakoff (1838–1926), here pictured soon after her marriage to Baron Friedrich Adeldagus Felix von Meyendorff, becoming Baroness von Meyendorff, signed Elise Hügel and dated 1858. Executed in oil on canvas, the work shows a young Olga in her early 20´s, dressed in a black lace dress, with a single red rose fastened at the neckline. Around her neck, a red silk ribbon is tied, adding a vivid accent of color together with the rose against the otherwise dark attire. She is presented with poise and dignity, in keeping with mid-19th-century aristocratic portrait conventions. The gilded wooden frame is of later manufacture but in the style of the period.
Olga von Meyendorff: Life and Cultural Role
Princess Olga Gorchakov, sometimes spelled Gortschakoff was born in Warsaw in 1837 (some sources say 1838), belonged to the Russian noble family of Gorchakov. In 1857 she married Baron Friedrich Adeldagus Felix von Meyendorff (1834–1871), a Baltic-German diplomat in Russian service who later became envoy in Weimar. The couple had four sons and moved within the diplomatic and cultural elite of Europe.
After the sudden death of her husband in 1871, Olga remained socially active, especially in Weimar, where her salon became a significant meeting place for artists, writers, and musicians. She was herself a competent pianist and became closely associated with Franz Liszt during the last decades of his life. Liszt corresponded with her extensively between 1871 and 1886, dedicating several piano works to her, including intimate late pieces such as the Impromptu (Nocturne), S.191 and selections from the Valses oubliées. Through this exchange, Olga became not only a confidante but also a cultural interlocutor who helped to shape the intellectual and musical life of her time.
Olga’s influence and legacy are preserved above all in the published collection "The Letters of Franz Liszt to Olga von Meyendorff" (1871–1886), which documents their friendship and intellectual partnership. She died in Rome in 1926. Her life exemplifies the cultural role of noblewomen in 19th-century Europe, bridging diplomacy, salon culture, and the arts.
Elise Hügel
The painter of Olga’s 1858 portrait, Elise Hügel, remains a somewhat enigmatic figure in art history. Biographical records of her life and career are scarce, but her signed work demonstrates a confident grasp of portrait conventions in mid-19th-century Europe. She is known to have produced portraits in mid-19th century Germany or central Europe. The signature and date 1858 place her active in the same period when portraiture by women artists was less frequently documented, especially in aristocratic circles. The portrait of Olga Gortschakoff testifies to Hügel’s professional standing and to the commissioning practices of aristocratic families, who often sought out capable women artists for such intimate likenesses.
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
1stDibs seller since 2023
28 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Stockholm, Sweden
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllMother with Baby - Portrait Study, 19th Century Oil on Panel
Located in Stockholm, SE
A lively and affectionate oil study on wood panel by a female artist depicting a mother sitting in a Louis XV armchair with her infant in her lap. She is dressed in a green long skir...
Category
Late 19th Century Other Art Style Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Haga Pavilion - 19th Century Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish King Gustav III´s summer castle, the Haga pavilion, by Carl Abraham Rothstén, (1826 - 1877). Oil on canvas, signed with monogram CAR. Probably painted in the third quarter of...
Category
Mid-19th Century Other Art Style Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of a Young Boy - Oil on Canvas Circa 1850
Located in Stockholm, SE
Oval Portrait of a Young Boy (Johan Gustaf Moll, 1843–1912), attributed to Carl Ferdinand Sohn (1805–1867)
An intimate oval portrait of a young boy. Mounted in an oval gilt wood peri...
Category
1850s Other Art Style Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of a Russian Artist or Dignitary - 19th Century Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, SE
This 19th-century oil on canvas portrait depicts a distinguished male figure—probably Russian and possibly an artist or a dignitary—with a striking resemblance to the renowned Russia...
Category
19th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Oriental Woman - 19th Century Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, SE
A standing odalisque holding her hands together upwards against the side of her head. Behind her a drapery and to the right of her an opening towards a terrace with sunlit skies and ...
Category
1890s Other Art Style Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Portrait Gustav Wilhelm Palm - 19th Century Pencil and Pastel on Paper
Located in Stockholm, SE
Portrait of Gustaf Wilhelm Palm (1810–1890) by Lorenz Frølich (1820-1908)
Signed with monogram and dated May 1849. Pencil and pastel on paper. 29.5 × 21 cm.
This portrait of the Swed...
Category
1840s Naturalistic Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Pastel, Carbon Pencil
You May Also Like
19th-Century Austrian School, Portrait Of A Lady In Spanish Attire
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This exquisite mid-19th-century bust-length Austrian portrait depicts a young lady wearing a red gown together with a black lace veil, similar to a mantilla, and a red rose. It was f...
Category
19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Antique portrait oil painting female 19th century original oil on canvas
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Antique oil portrait painting of a woman. This painting is an attractive French portrait painting of a woman in a green dress. The artist has given this painting a depth of detail ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
$571 Sale Price
50% Off
19th Century Portrait Of A Young Woman Oil On Canvas
Located in York, GB
Fine 19th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait of a Young Woman in large gilt gesso frame .unsigned.
Identity of the sitter as yet unknown. The artist has managed to capture her ethereal b...
Category
19th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Mid to Late 19th Century Portrait of an Elegant Young Woman
Located in San Francisco, CA
Superb Mid to Late 19th Century Portrait of an Elegant Young Woman
The sitter is an elegant young woman in her finest dress and jewelry.
Original oil on canvas. Dimensions 22" x 27...
Category
Mid-19th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
French Portrait Mysterious lady 19th century Oil painting Acknowledged master
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unsigned but attributed to acknowledged master Francois-Xavier Fabre (François-Xavier Fabre, 1766 – 1837), French painter of historical subjects. Stylish and perfect portrait of beau...
Category
1820s French School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Oil
American Portrait Painting of a Lady of the Verplanck Family
Located in Houston, TX
The painting features a 3/4 bust portrait of a refined lady from the Verplanck family of Orange County, New York. The painting shows a young woman seated for her portrait in a fine b...
Category
1820s American Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
