This masterfully portrait of Eduard Duke of Saxe-Altenburg was purchased together and as a pair to the portrait of his niece, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg ( wife of Russian Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich) in the important "century" auction "Works of Art from the Royal House of Hanover" of Sotheby�s in the castle Marienburg by Hanover on 5 - 15 October 2005 (both works under lot number 1827). For the portrait of Alexandra see additional photo.Due to the family legend and similarity of quality , both portraits were attributed to the hand of most famous Munich portrait painter Josef Karl Stieler (1781 - 1858).

Biogr.info about the sitter of our painting (source : Wikipedia):Eduard Karl Wilhelm Christian of Saxe-Altenburg (b. Hildburghausen, 3 July 1804-d. Munich, 16 May 1852), was a German prince of the ducal house of Saxe-Hildburghausen (of Saxe-Altenburg from 1826), Bavarian Generalleutnant and Commander of the Cavalry of Division of the I Corps in Munich.He was the youngest son of Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (of Saxe-Altenburg from 1826) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. his eldger brother Joseph of Saxe-Altenburg was father of Alexandra (futured Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia). He married firstly in Sigmaringen on 25 July 1835 to Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. They had four children:Therese Amalie Karoline Josephine Antoinette (b. Ansbach, 21 December 1836 - d. Stockholm, 9 November 1914), Antoinette Charlotte Marie Josephine Karoline Frida (b. Bamberg, 17 April 1838 - d. Berchtesgaden, 13 October 1908), Ludwig Joseph Karl Georg Friedrich (b. Bamberg, 24 September 1839 - d. Munich, 13 February 1844) and Johann Friedrich Joseph Karl (b. Sigmaringen, 8 January 1841 - d. Munich, 25 February 1844).He married secondly in Greiz on 8 March 1842 to Princess Luise Caroline Reuss of Greiz, daughter of Heinrich XIX. they had two children:Albert Heinrich Joseph Carl Viktor Georg Friedrich (b. Munich, 14 April 1843 - d. Serrahn, 22 May 1902). He married first Princess Marie of Prussia and secondly Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.Marie Gasparine Amalie Antoinette Karoline Elisabeth Luise (b. Munich, 28 June 1845 - d. Sondershausen, 5 July 1930), married on 12 June 1869 to Charles Gonthier, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

Provenance: purchased from the artist by Hanover Royal family in 1834, since that time - the property of Royal House of Hanover , by last owner purchased on important "century"-auction of Sotheby´s in the Castle Marienburg "Works of Art from the Royal House of Hanover", 5 - 15 October 2005, Lot 1827).

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon", Leiptig, 1999, on-line Wikipedia, cataloque of Sothebys, sale on 5.-15.10.2005 in the castle Marienburg by Hanover, p.272, lot no. 1827.

Inscription: unsigned.Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame with crown and monogram E.(for Eduard).

Measurements: unframed w 23 5/8" x 29 1/2" (60 x 75 cm); framed 34 1/8" x 45 5/8 " (86,5 x 116 cm).

Condition: in good condition, professional cleaned, no paintlosses or inpaintings, original canvas.