(Schrobenhausen 1836-1904 Munich) Children of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, old label on the reverse inscribed "Property of Princess Hilde of Bavaria", oil on panel (parquetted), 96 x 67.5 cm, framed, (Rei)

Provenance: Private property, Germany.

Compare: Sonja Mehl, Franz von Lenbach, published by Prestel Munich 1980, p. 188, cat. ill. 384f; Franz von Lembach, 1836-1904, Städtische Galerie in Lenbachhaus Munich 14. 12. 1986-3. 5. 1987, p. 297, no. 133. Several diverse studies preceded the finished painting of the family of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.

The composition here shows the contours of the Crown Prince’s wife, Maria Theresia (1849-1919), neé Archduchess of Austria, leaning over to her third-eldest daughter, Princess Hildegard of Bavaria (1881-1948), who is sitting on the stool. In front of them stands the couple’s youngest son, Prince Wolfgang of Bavaria (1879-1885). Lenbach, who also worked from photographs whilst executing the family portrait, wrote in a letter to Franziska von Wertheimstein: "... and also had to depict Prince Ludwig’s family (10 people) which was a huge undertaking..." The artist was trained at the Munich Academy, amongst others. His style of painting – modulating moods through colour – closely followed the new approach propagated by Karl Theodor von Piloty. The artist enjoyed great success amongst the art-loving upper and middle classes and this ensured his financial stability. (Compare: Sonja Mehl, Franz von Lenbach, published by Prestel Munich 1980, p.188f.)

We are grateful to Dr. Sonja von Baronow for her assistance in cataloguing this work.

Provenance: Private property, Germany. Compare: Sonja Mehl, Franz von Lenbach, published by Prestel Munich 1980, p. 188, cat. ill. 384f; Franz von Lembach, 1836-1904, Städtische Galerie in Lenbachhaus Munich 14. 12. 1986-3. 5. 1987, p. 297, no. 133. Seve