Family portrait

The identification of this group portrait is not clearly established. Maybe it shows Maria Ludovica of Austria-Este (1787-1816), the third wife of Francis I (1768-1835),¹ with three of the five children from her husband’s second marriage, to Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily (1772-1807). She and her husband remained childless. To the left, there maybe is shown the eldest son, Ferdinand (1793-1824), who was to become Emperor of Austria-Hungary. In front of the empress we maybe see her youngest stepson, Franz Karl (1802-1878), dressed in a sleeveless red shirt and black trousers. By representing him holding a miniature of his father in his right hand at the level of his stepmother’s breast, the artist was able to include the male parent as well.² The eldest daughter, Marie Louise (1791-1847), whose first marriage was to Napoleon I, might be shown at the same level as the empress, but standing. Like her stepmother, she wears a white imperial dress, but with a blue cape, whereas the empress’ body is framed by a dark red stole. The mother is also distinguished by her lace cap with a blue ribbon. The two ladies comprise a central group between the eldest and the youngest sons. The eyes of all the sitters are looking at the observer. The composition of the miniature is interesting and fascinating: the “male line” is drawn from the upper left to the lower right across the picture – supported by the tree behind the eldest son – and crosses the “female line”. The portrait of the father is located at the point of intersection, right at Maria Ludovica’s heart.
D. O.