DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66024#0180
98 ANGELICA KAUFFMANN
In March of the same year, she mentions receiving the payment for the
picture of St. Joseph and the Infant, painted for Abbot Grandi (or Brandi);
and in April records beginning to paint a picture for the Bishop of Munster,
to represent Christ blessing little children, and probably the one to which
Mr. Forbes alludes. It would appear that this gave great satisfaction, because
in November of the same year she announces that she is starting work upon
a picture of the Virgin for the same client.
In April, she was at work on a portrait of the Duchessa di Poli, and alludes
to a picture of three girls singing, which she had painted for Lord Holland,
and to a picture of “ Cupid and Psyche,” which she had painted for the Princess
of Dessau. Then we have a reference to a payment from Mr. Rushout (after-
wards second Lord Northwick), for the picture of “ Ulysses and Circe,” and to
the payment of the Duchessa di Poli for her picture, while, at the same time,
she commenced a portrait of Madame Riz. This lady was better known
under a different name. She was Wilhelmina Enke, afterwards created
Countess of Lichtenau, and the mistress of Frederick William II, King of
Prussia. She was the daughter of a musician of the Royal Chapel, and there
is an allusion to her in Moritt’s letters, together with some curious details of
her friendships. She also wrote her own Memoirs, issued in German in
1808, and in French in 1809, and she exercised a considerable influence on
the politics and life of her day. Her marriage with M. Rietz (or Riz) was one
merely of arrangement and for appearance’ sake.
The only other allusions to pictures in 1796 are notes that in September
Angelica finished the picture of the Virgin as a young girl, and that in November
she began the picture for the Bishop of Munster. We have, however, two
interesting references to her, one in a letter of April 20th, written by Lady
Knight, and another in Malvini’s Life of Canova. The letter of April 20th
was addressed to Peter, the second son of Jerome, Count de Salis, who, after
the death of his elder brother Charles, member for Reading, succeeded to the
property of his mother, who was Mary, daughter of Charles, Viscount Fane;
and settled down upon his estate in Ireland, but eventually came to England,
where he died in 1807. He wras well acquainted with Angelica, and appears
to have known her in Switzerland before she came to England, and she gave
him her portrait, which she painted, specially for him, in the Grisons peasant
costume, which she was wearing when first he made her acquaintance.1 Lady
Knight also refers to the Count and Countess de Salis, parents of Count Jerome
and to their house at Hillingdon, where occasionally they resided. They had
made the acquaintance of the person to whom Count Jerome addressed his
letter. In it, Lady Knight writes thus :—
“ I rejoice at your having got such agreeable neighbours [that is, the Count
and Countess de Salis]. Madame Angelica has a profound respect for them.
The painter you mention we hear of as having painted a small head of Angelica,
1 A similar portrait, probably a replica, she sent to Schwarzenburg.
In March of the same year, she mentions receiving the payment for the
picture of St. Joseph and the Infant, painted for Abbot Grandi (or Brandi);
and in April records beginning to paint a picture for the Bishop of Munster,
to represent Christ blessing little children, and probably the one to which
Mr. Forbes alludes. It would appear that this gave great satisfaction, because
in November of the same year she announces that she is starting work upon
a picture of the Virgin for the same client.
In April, she was at work on a portrait of the Duchessa di Poli, and alludes
to a picture of three girls singing, which she had painted for Lord Holland,
and to a picture of “ Cupid and Psyche,” which she had painted for the Princess
of Dessau. Then we have a reference to a payment from Mr. Rushout (after-
wards second Lord Northwick), for the picture of “ Ulysses and Circe,” and to
the payment of the Duchessa di Poli for her picture, while, at the same time,
she commenced a portrait of Madame Riz. This lady was better known
under a different name. She was Wilhelmina Enke, afterwards created
Countess of Lichtenau, and the mistress of Frederick William II, King of
Prussia. She was the daughter of a musician of the Royal Chapel, and there
is an allusion to her in Moritt’s letters, together with some curious details of
her friendships. She also wrote her own Memoirs, issued in German in
1808, and in French in 1809, and she exercised a considerable influence on
the politics and life of her day. Her marriage with M. Rietz (or Riz) was one
merely of arrangement and for appearance’ sake.
The only other allusions to pictures in 1796 are notes that in September
Angelica finished the picture of the Virgin as a young girl, and that in November
she began the picture for the Bishop of Munster. We have, however, two
interesting references to her, one in a letter of April 20th, written by Lady
Knight, and another in Malvini’s Life of Canova. The letter of April 20th
was addressed to Peter, the second son of Jerome, Count de Salis, who, after
the death of his elder brother Charles, member for Reading, succeeded to the
property of his mother, who was Mary, daughter of Charles, Viscount Fane;
and settled down upon his estate in Ireland, but eventually came to England,
where he died in 1807. He wras well acquainted with Angelica, and appears
to have known her in Switzerland before she came to England, and she gave
him her portrait, which she painted, specially for him, in the Grisons peasant
costume, which she was wearing when first he made her acquaintance.1 Lady
Knight also refers to the Count and Countess de Salis, parents of Count Jerome
and to their house at Hillingdon, where occasionally they resided. They had
made the acquaintance of the person to whom Count Jerome addressed his
letter. In it, Lady Knight writes thus :—
“ I rejoice at your having got such agreeable neighbours [that is, the Count
and Countess de Salis]. Madame Angelica has a profound respect for them.
The painter you mention we hear of as having painted a small head of Angelica,
1 A similar portrait, probably a replica, she sent to Schwarzenburg.