The sitter of our miniature is the represantant of famous Hungarian noble family Palffy. His name due to the antique back side inscription, Count Moritz Palffy von Erdöd (1812 Vöröskö - 1897 Kaltenleutgeben). It´s known, that his parents were Ferenc Palffy von Erdöd (b.1785) and Jozefa Terez Erdödy de Monyorokerek e Monoszlo (b.1788). Moritz Palffy married Pauline, Countess von Wilczek (b.1829) on 6.05.1850 and they have 7 children, 4 dauthers and 3 sons.

This rare portrait miniature was executed in 1842 by Viennese portrait, miniature painter and lithographer Faustin (Faust) Herr, who was active as artist from 1834 to 1849 in Vienna, Munich, Praque, Lemberg. He was born in Rothweil am Rhein (Baden), studied under Laurenz Herr at the Academy in Vienna, and exhibited his portrait works by exhibitions of Academy to St. Anna in 1834, 1836 and 1840. Later he worked in Munich.He is considered a very capable artist whose works are extremely rare outside. At Art Auctions Shidlof & Kende, Vienna, 1918 - 1919 were a few portraits by him, mostly , signed and dated 1834-1836 .

Literature : Prof.H.Fuchs " Die Österreichischen Maler" (with two illustr . miniatures ) Vienna, 1975; Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary" (in German), Leipzig, 1999; ADEC (gener.register by Saur).

Inscription: signed , inscribed (difficult to read) and dated 1842; on the backside of cover - antique label with inscription in German about the sitter "Portrait of Moritz Palffy ...."

Technique: gouache on ivory , in lether frame under glass.

Measurements: image w 3 1/3" x h 4 1/4 " (8,5 x 10,8 cm), framed w 4 1/8" x h 4 7/8" (10,5 x 12,5 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.