Albert Casimir of Saxony-Teschen

The Austrian general field marshal Albert Casimir of Saxony-Teschen (1738–1822) had his portrait painted in front of a balustrade and next to a high pedestal, both decorated with the insignia of a ruler. A ceremonial helmet and a sword indicate the military rank of the sitter and are,together with the pedestal, also a token of his social position. The son of the Saxon elector Frederick Augustus II and the Austrian Archduchess Maria Josepha was married to Marie Christine, the favourite daughter of Queen Maria Theresa.From his father-in-law he inherited properties in Austrian Silesia and called himself Duke of Teschen from then on. His identity has been confirmed by comparing this miniature with several reference images.¹

Albert Casimir was governor in Hungary from 1765 until 1780 and subsequently viceroy of the Austrian Netherlands.At that time he had already acquired an extensive art collection. In his new home of Vienna he had the former Palais Taroucca converted for his use. To this day the Albertina – named after him – is located there. It houses the largest graphics collection in the world.

In Hungarian Altenburg Albert Casimir had founded one of the first agricultural colleges in Europe in 1818. The portrait shows him with the sash and breast star of the Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen.