Extreme rare watercolour portrait was purchased on the art auction in Vienna Dorotheum , came to the sale from the noble private owner, who recieved it in 1950 as a gift from the estate of the last Queen of Saxony Karoline . On the reverse of painting and frame there are different inscriptions and stamps(see photos): queen´s estate stamp - on the reverse of frame ; original label with autograph of queen and collector`s inscriptions , confirmed the queen`´s provenance. The author of this portrait , one of the best Austrian portrait and miniature painters Emanuel Thomas Peter (1799 - 1873) executed this work in 1850 and depicted the Queen as young and beautiful Princess Vasa of Sweden in the age of 17 years. Carola, Princess Vasa (Karoline Frederikke Franziska Stephanie Amalia Cecilia) (5 August 1833 at Schonbrunn/Vienna - 15 december 1907 in Dresden) was a titular princess of Sweden, futured last Queen of Saxony and wife of King Albert I.She was the daughter of the former Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden and Princess Louise Amelie of Baden, and a granddaughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, who had been deposed in 1809.In the early 1850s, she was considered one of the most beautiful royal princesses of Europe. Suitors were not lacking, and there had been plans for her to marry Napoleon III, Emperor of the French. Full biography with more info and illustrations about Queen see in Wikipedia under following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carola_of_Vasa

Literature: H.Fuchs "Lexicon of austrian artists of 19th century", Vienna, 1975;

Inscription: signed and dated (1)850 lower left, on the reverse of painting and frame - different inscriptions about the sitter, author and stamp of queen.

Technique: watercolour on paper. Original period gold-plated frame

Measurements: unframed w 9 1/2" x h 14 1/5" (24 x 36 cm); framed w 19 1/4" x 24 1/3" (49 x 62 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.