A pair of masterful watercolour works were executed in 1852 by famous Austrian-Russian portrait painter and lithographer Michael Stohl ( 1813 Vienna - 1881). The artist, student of the Vienna Academy , after travelling to Rome recieved patronage of russian Great Duchess Maria Nicolaevna (1819-1876), older daughter of Tzar Nicolas I. In the same time she was the President of Russian Art Academy. Michael Stohl has been offered to live and work in St. Petersburg as court painter. He created for russian imperial house a series of watercolours as copies after old masters. In 1850-1860 he was very popular in the court circles and noble houses in St.Petersburg as portrait and miniature painter. After his return to Austria he painted portraits of members of noble families : Lichtenstein , Schwarzenberg, Schoenburg, Lobkowitz, Waldstein , Lanckoronski . His estate was in possession of Baroness Mathilde von Doblhof( Vienna) and was sold by Fromme, Vienna in 1926.

Literature: Thieme/Becker " Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenen Künstler von der antike bis zur Gegenwart"

Inscription: each signed, portrait of gentleman dated 1852, potrait of lady inscribed by th author (indistinctly).

Technique: each watercolours on paper in original period gold-plated frames

Measurements: image w 15" x h 19 2/3" (38 x 50 cm) framed w 20 1/8" x 24 3/8 "(51 x 62cm)

Condition: in very good condition