Franz Seraph Stirnbrand was born ca 1788 in Croatia and died in 1882 in Stuttgart. At the age of 17 he began studying under decoration painter in Linz, afterwards was a pupil of Anton Hitzenthaler. He fled from military service to Germany, in 1809-1812 worked in Frankfurt a.M., where he painted portraits of Napoleon, his wife Marie Louise and other important persons of that time on tobacco tins. In Frankfurt the artist also portrayed the representatives of high aristocracy. He later moved to Stuttgart, from there made trips to Austria, Paris. Until 1824 he lived in Karlsruhe and painted there portraits for court (!). In 1824-25 Stirnbrand stayed in Rome and portrayed the Pope Leon XII. His works can now be seen in museums of Stuttgart, in various castles around Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

Inscription: on the reverse signed and dated 1834

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed h 28 1/3" x w 22" (72 x 56 cm), framed h 36 1/4" x w 29 4/5" (92 x 76 cm)

Condition: in good condition