Mastefully double portrait of noble children was executed in 1844 by Marie Troll, born Krafft (1812-1885), the pupil and the daughter of famous Austrian painter Johnn Peter Krafft ( 1780 Hanau - 1856 Vienna). Probably, our watercolour depicts daughters of Marie Krafft, who married in 1840 banker August Troll . 

In 1847 she separated from her husband and now concentrated entirely on painting copies of paintings, which made her
a sought-after copyist.

In the same year, 1847, Marie's mother and two of her siblings died. Despite her promising career as a copyist, Marie moved back to her father's house with her children. There, the picture gallery in the Upper Belvedere provided her with ample material for her copies. Her works were repeatedly acquired by members of the imperial family.

Marie was artistically gifted; she received drawing and watercolor lessons from an early age. Her father considered oil painting "unfeminine," so she learned lithography instead from the mid-1830s. She was denied admission to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna—women were not allowed to attend classes there until 1920.

Marie's subjects were drawn from her immediate surroundings: she focused primarily on domestic scenes. She also painted copies of paintings and landscape vedute. Her view of Vienna from the Upper Belvedere is surprisingly modern in its framing and composition. Her spontaneity shines through more strongly here than in the carefully arranged childhood portraits of her siblings.

Marie's paintings reflect the secluded world of women in her time: It is significant that
her father shows Marie at her desk by the open window, gazing outwards,
but without physically crossing the boundary set by the window.

Exhibitions: In the exhibition "Johann Peter Krafft" (Historical Museum Hanau, Phillipsruhe Palace), an separated entire room was dedicated to the works by Marie Krafft.

Literature: artist lexicon of Austrian painters by Prof.H.Fuchs.

Inscription: on the lower edge signed and dated in German: Marie Troll, geb(Irene) Kraft, (1)844.

Technique: watercolour on thin cardboard, original period gold-washed frame with pewter mounted corners.

Measurements: unframed w 8" x h 10 1/4" (20,5 x 26 cm), framed 10 5/8" x 13" ( 27 x 33 cm).

Condition: quite good.