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Pair 18th Century Royal Portraits, Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Joseph II

About the Item

Interests: Royalty, Enlightened Absolutism, 18th century European painting, Joseph Hickel, Marie Antoinette A fine pair of 18th century portraits depicting Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress consort, Queen consort of Germany, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia and Archduchess of Austria and her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of the Romans, Germany and Archduke of Austria. Empress Maria Theresa was a formidable monarch, the only woman to rule the Hapsburg dominions from 1740 to 1780. She was also mother to sixteen children, notably to Emperor Joseph II and Queen Marie Antoinette. An Enlightened Absolutist, she carried out lasting educational reforms by establishing elementary schools and removing universities from church control. Emperor Joseph II, Maria Theresa's oldest son, continued the Enlightened Absolutist family legacy. He is considered one of the three great Enlightened monarchs, together with Catherine the Great of Russia and Frederick the Great of Prussia. An important patron of the Arts, Joseph II was known as the Musical King, having commissioned works from Mozart and Beethoven. Under him, elementary education was made compulsory for all boys and girls and scholarships were offered for talented poor students. In the field of medicine, centralized medical care was introduced in Vienna with the opening of a new hospital, the famous Allgemeines Krankenhaus. This hospital went on to become preeminent in the medical field for the next century. The portraits date from the late 18th century and were likely diplomatic gifts, customary during this period. Oil on canvas Very good condition, original wooden stretchers. Attributed to Joseph Hickel, 1736-1807 Joseph Hickel studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste in Vienna from 1756 to 1766-7. In 1768, Queen Maria Theresa commissioned him to travel to Italy to paint portraits of the nobility of Florence, Milan and Parma. Hickel became a member of the Academia di Belle Arti in Florence and went on to become the Imperial court painter in 1776. Thereafter, Hickel became a highly fashionable portrait painter of illustrious subjects such as Pope Pius VI, members of the Austrian Imperial family and numerous European noble families. - Christie's Auction, lot essays References: A portrait of Emperor Joseph II was sold Christie's, London July 8 1999, lot 213. A portrait of Antonia, Grafin von Lamberg, aged 6, was sold Christie's Auction 2520, September 24, 2001, lot 108.
  • Attributed to:
    Joseph Hickel (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.75 in (29.85 cm)Width: 8.75 in (22.23 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Canvas,Hand-Painted
  • Place of Origin:
    Austria
  • Period:
    18th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    18th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5828226468352

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