Extreme rare pair of miniatures of museum quality by one of the best Austrian miniature painters of 19 century Richard Schwager (1822-1880), who recieved his glory for virtuose miniatures of Austrian royal house.

Richard Schwager (1822 Duppau, Bohemia - 1880 Rodaun by Vienna) was a very well-known Austrian portrait miniature painter. From 1847 he was a pupil of Johann Nepomuk Ender and Leopold Kupelwieser at the Vienna Academy and made various trips to Germany, France, Belgium, England and Russia, where he received comissions of high esteem. He was one of the last miniaturists from the circle of Moritz Michael Daffinger and received the nickname "Miniature-Amerling" (Friedrich von Amerling was the best Viennese portraitist of the 19th century) for his virtuoso art of painting. From 1861 he was a member of the Vienna "Kuenstlerhaus".

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart"; Prof.H.Fuchs "Austrian Painters ", Vienna, 1975; Vollmer II, 1955, 548; ThB XVIII, 1925, 583 s

Inscription: both miniatures signed and dated 1858 and signed lower on the left edge and lower on the right edge. .

Technique: gouaches on ivory. Original period lether frames with gilt bronze tie.

Measurements: each unframed w 4 3/8 " x h 3 1/2 " (11 x 9 cm); framed w 7 1/8 " x h 6 1/4" (18 x 16 cm)

Condition: in very good condition