Masterfully portrait of famous Austrian ballerina Fanny Elssner with Vienna in background was purchased at the sale of Bonhams/London ”British& European Art” on 10.11.2021, lot Nr. 161. This  painting was executed around 1840s and due to very similar stylistic similarities was attributed to the hand of prominent Austrian genre and portrait painter Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793 -1865) or an artist from his circle. For comparison with images of Fanny Elssner and other portraits by Waldmüller  see our additional photos.

Fanny Elssler (1810-1884), today a well-known Austrian ballerina, was born in Vienna and began dancing from the age of seven. Her innovative spontaneity and distinctive spirit when performing led to her being described as "the Spaniard from the north" by the French author Theophile Gautier, and gained her international success early on in her career. Between 1840-1842 she toured the United States before returning to Europe to dance in England, Germany, Italy, and Russia until 1851 when she retired.

Inscription: unsigned.

Technique: oil on canvas, painted in oval on rectangular canvas, original period gilt frame.

Measurements: unframed w.26 3/4” x h. 26 3/4” (68 x 68 cm), framed (. ).

Condition: very good.