Miniature Portrait of Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken

This exceedingly well executed miniature portrait likely dates to the last quarter of the 18th Century and is rendered after a portrait painted in circa 1745. The picture depicts Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1724-1767) who was part of the dynastic German 'Wittelsbach' family. The original portrait was painted by French artist Louis Tocqué (1696-1772) in circa 1745 and is now held with the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich. Both the original artwork and the miniature feature the Count wearing the Order of St Hubert, while the painter of this miniature has changed the colour of his robe from blue to a plum colour. The Count was the father of Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and a direct ancestor of Ludwig II of Bavaria who famously erected the Castle of Neuschwanstein in southern Germany.

The image has been painted on a fine sliver of ivory and framed in its very likely original gilded timber frame, circa 1770. The rear is pasted with a marbled paper backing which has likely been replaced at some stage during the life of this miniature. A really delightful and well executed 18th Century miniature which appears in virtually untouched condition.

Measures - 16cm H x 13cm W