Grand Duchess Friederike Caroline Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz with the portrait of her first daughter, Charlotte Georgine Luise Friederike
Oil on canvas.
This picture, made in the tradition of courtly portrait painting, offers a symbolic insight into the private life of the depicted princess of Hesse-Darmstadt (1752-1782), through marriage the Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and mother of the Prussian Queen Luise. The elaborately gathered and embroidered, silk-blue dress, the artfully teased hairstyle, the subtle but expensive jewellery underline her representative function. As an allegory, the little dog refers to marital fidelity and, like the finely executed child portrait in her hands, illustrates the social role of the young duchess.
Commissioned on the birth or christening of their first child, this lovingly painted souvenir was created with the double portrait of mother and daughter. Charlotte (1769-1818), who later, together with her sisters Queen Luise of Prussia, Queen Friederike of Hanover and Princess Therese of Thurn und Taxis, was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time, married Duke Friedrich of Saxony-Hildburghausen at the age of 15.
Height 64 cm, width 46 cm.
