Extreme fine miniature of Archduchess Marie Karoline of Austria (1825-1915) was executed 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.

For evidence of the sitter on miniature see our additional image of the miniature of the same person by another Austrian miniature painter Robert Theer, sold in Christies, London.

Archduchess Maria Karoline was born in Vienna as the second daughter and sixth child of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg. Her father was a son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain and the "hero of Aspern". Her mother was a daughter of Frederick William of Nassau-Weilburg (1768–1816) and his wife Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg. Between her siblings there were Maria Theresa, Queen consort of Two Sicilies and Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen.

She was Princess-Abbess of the Theresian Royal and Imperial Ladies Chapter of the Castle of Prague (1844-1852).

On 21 February 1852, Maria Karoline married her cousin Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria, third son of Archduke Rainer of Austria and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy-Carignano. The marriage was a very happy one, and the couple was probably the most popular amongst the Habsburg family. The marriage remained childless.

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: Wikipedia.org; 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: miniature signed right on the lower edge .

Technique: gouaches on ivory. Original period gold frame as a brooch.

Measurements: each unframed w 1 1/4 " x h 1 1/2 " (3,2 x 3,9cm); framed w 1 3/8 " x h 1 5/8" (3,5 x 4,2 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.