Museum quality portrait watercolour of a beautiful Austrian or Hungarian noble lady was executed in 1830s by renowed Viennese portrait miniature painter of French origin Claude (Klaudius) Pierre ( 1803 Mainz - 1854 Vienna). In 1829 he joined the Viennese Academy, in its list of pupils he is to prove up to the year 1831. He exhibited in 1836 on the Academy exhibition to St. Anna a portrait. In his male portraits he reminds sometimes of Lieder, in the female portraits - of Josef Kriehuber. In the 30´s and 40´s he enjoyed popularity as a portraitist in the Austrian and especially the Hungarian nobility circles. His watercolor portraits show great freshness and outstanding skill as draftsman . On the art auction Leo R.Shidlof, Vienna 5. November 1925, it was sold the watercolor portrait of three countesses Czaky, dated 1820. On the art auction Schidlof & Kende, Vienna, 15,718 May 1918, were auctioned 16 watercolor portraits of Hungarian aristocrats. It is in detail the portraits of Count Alex Törok, Count Degenfeld, Count Miko Baron Spleny , Count Teleky, Count Holstein, Countess Anna Maria Stadium, Earl Albert Gyulai and Vincenz Festetics of Tolna. At the exhibition "The painted small portrait" in the National Library, Vienna 1931, was shown by him the portrait of a lady, signed Pierre.

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart"; Prof.H.Fuchs "Austrian Painters ", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: signed "Pierre ft (fecit)" lower right , on the backside - original label with the inscription about the sitter (see photo).

Technique: watercolour on paper. Luxuriousy gold-plated original period Viennese Biedermeier frame.

Measurements: image w 4 3/4 " x h 5 7/8 " (12 x 15 cm); matted and framed w 9 7/8 " x h 11 " (25 x 28 cm)

Condition: in good condition, edges of watercolour are slightly browned.