The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

Die Miniatur Über den Künstler

The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

DE
The Miniature About the Artist

Louise of Saxony-Gotha-Roda, Wife of Frederick Francis I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Giovanni Domenico Bossi

This miniature by Bossi impresses by virtue of its strong plasticity which is evoked by an economic but skillful use of contrasting bright and dark colours. The lady’s voluptuous proportions are emphasized by her hairstyle and her position in the picture. It is Louise of Saxony-Gotha-Roda (1756-1808), wife of Friedrich Franz I (1756-1837) since 1775; in 1785 he became Duke, and in 1815 Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; their residence was in Güstrow. The sitter’s identity is proved by another, almost identical miniature painted by Bossi in 1795 which is in the art collections of the Staatliches Museum Schwerin.1
J. S. O.


1 A register of portraits representing Schwerin’s sovereigns indicates that Bossi created three portraits of the duchess in 1796 which were copied several times by the miniature painter Wilhelm August Christian Abel in Ludwigslust. One of these copies is in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Gallery for Paintings of Old Masters) in Dresden. We are grateful to Dr Kristina Hegener, Staatliches Museum Schwerin, and a gentleman who does not wish to be named, for their assistance.