This classical portrait of a beauty was executed around 1815 and although unsigned, has all stilistic criteria for attribution to famous Italo-Austrian portraitist of the turn of the 19th century Johann Baptist Lampi the Elder.

Johann Baptist Lampi the Elder (1751 Romeno, South Tirol - 1830 Vienna) began his studies in Salzburg. After a short period working in his native South Tirol, he went then to Italy, where he worked with the Lorenzi Brothers in Verona, joining the Veronese Academy in 1773. He travelled throughout Italy painting commissioned religious works and portraits for the members of the high aristocracy. Back in Austria in the early 1780´s he found access to the higher circles of society through noble protecteurs. He painted several portraits of emperor Josef II, having joined the Academy of Arts in 1785, where he became Professor for historical painting. Attending an invitation to St. Petersburg he went to Russia to work as court painter, after a period of four years in Poland. Back in Vienna he was dubbed knight in 1798.

Provenanance: noble Viennese estate .

Literature: Prof.H.Fuchs, Lexicon of austrian artists, Vienna, 1975. Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999.

Inscription: unsigned, on the back of original canvas is antique German inscription about sitter: " in 1815 she was 20 years old".

Technique: oil on canvas. Magnificent original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed h 22 7/8" x w 28 1/3" (58 x 72 cm ), framed h 29 1/3" x 34 7/8" (74,5 x 88,5 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.