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Portrait of Empress Elizabeth

Georg Raab

Basic information

ID: Ж-2030
Author: Georg Raab
Name: Portrait of Empress Elizabeth
Date of creation: 1874
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 70.5 x 58

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Provenance: the Goluchowski collection
Exposition: Lozinski Palace

Information about author

Author: Georg Raab
Artist's lifetime: 1821–1885
Country: Austria
Biography: Georg Raab (1821–1885) was an Austrian artist, portraitist, miniaturist, and lithographer. He served as a court painter to the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830–1916). Raab received his education at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. From 1841 to 1846, he worked in Budapest before settling in Vienna. Most often Raab created female portraits (paintings, watercolours, miniatures on ivory) and portraits of the royal family. His works were highly successful and were presented at numerous exhibitions.

Object description

The painting depicts a woman turned almost in profile, with her face and gaze directed at the viewer. The woman has long brown wavy hair styled under a diadem. Her facial features are delicate and harmonious: small brown eyes, thin eyebrows, a delicate nose, thin red lips, and smooth, fair skin of her face and neckline. The Empress is portrayed in a white ball gown with gold lace, flowers, and green leaves. Sisi's image is complemented by an emerald set of a tiara and a necklace decorated with golden star flowers. The portrait is painted with airy, light brushstrokes. Through the use of glaze, the artist accentuates the ivory-coloured complexion of the face with a subtle blush that almost glows. Elizabeth's gaze is mysterious, concealing a subtle smile. The purple background accentuates the grandeur of Empress Elizabeth's image.

Inscriptions

At the bottom left, there is the author's signature: "G.Raab/1874"

Portrayed person