Lot 526: Friedrich von Amerling (Vienna 1803-1887)

Friedrich von Amerling (Vienna 1803-1887)
Portrait of Count Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly, Prince von Dietrichstein zu Nicolsburg
oil on canvas
63 x 50.5 cm.

G. Probszt, Friedrich von Amerling:der Altmeister der Wiener Portraitmalerei, Zürich, 1927, no. 926.

Acquired directly from the artist by the sitter Count Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly, created Fürst von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg in 1868, until 1871.
By descent to his son Hugo Alfons Eduard Emanuel Joseph Johann Wenzeslaus Fürst von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg, until 1920.
By descent to his son Alexander Albert Olivier Anton Füst von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg, until 1964.
By descent to his daughter, the present owner.

THE PROPERTY OF COUNTESS MERCEDES VON DIETRICHSTEIN
Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €20,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €20,001 and €800.000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €800.000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
Count Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly (1813-1871), was an Austrian politician, including one month's service as Minister-President of Austria. He was furthermore Austrian ambassador to St Petersburg and England. Mensdorff-Pouilly accepted the family name and the family title after his marriage to Countess Alexandrine von Dietrichstein-Proskau-Leslie (1824-1906), the owner of the manor of Mikulov.

Mensdorff was a cousin of Queen Victoria through his mother, Sophie Coburg and Gotha, who was the direct aunt of Queen Victoria.
His portrait created by painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873) in London in 1847, in the possession of the current English Queen, is kept in the collection of Osborne House, a residence on the Isle of Wight.