International studio (27.1905/1906(1906))

Exhibition of Miniatures at Eienna


COUNTESS ANNA BY M. DAFFINGER
HARR ACH-LOB KOWI TZ
(By fiermission of Count Johann zu Harrach)
England, signed “P.V., 1609” (Paul Vansomer),
painted in oil on lead; a portrait of a lady, on ivory,
by Maria Cosway; a portrait of a young lady, on
ivory, by Sir Thomas Lawrence; a Vignette of a


PRINCESS LIECHTENSTEIN BY M. DAFFINGER
(Figdor Collection)

young lady, signed “ W. Ross, 1819” (Sir W. C.
Ross) ; a portrait of a young lady, painted in oils
on linen, by Hogarth ; a three-quarter figure of a
lady, signed “ A. K. ” (Angelica Kauffmann); a
Vignette on ivory of a lady dressed in the costume
of the end of the eighteenth Century, by Engle-
heart ; and many examples by Füger and other
artists. As it is impossible, within the scope of
this article, to give a detailed account of the exhi-
bition, we shall therefore, after mentioning the most
prominent contributors, whose collections should
be taken into account by future writers on minia-
tures, restrict our attention to the Viennese school.


HERR VON DEGEN BY H. FÜGER
(Figdor Collection)

Foremost among the contributors was His
Majesty the Emperor, who graciously placed his
own collection and that of the Imperial Family
Trust or Fidei Commisse at the disposition of the
committee. Amongst other prominent exhibitors
were Count Lanckoronski, Prince Johann von und
zu Liechtenstein, the Archduke Ferdinand Este,
the Archduke and Archduchess Rainer, Prince and
Princess Franz Auersperg, Dr. August Heymann,
Fräulein L. Emele, Countess Festetics-Hamilton,
and Baron Bourgoing.
Miniature painting in Vienna during the
eighteenth Century was a favourite occupation of
ladies. The great Empress Maria Theresa loved
the art and delighted in presenting her portrait “ in
little ” to her ladies of honour and distinguished
persons. Veryoften she painted them herseif, and
many such, bearing her signature, are extant. The

32°