Lot 1476
AFTER ALEXANDER ROSLIN (1718-1793)
PORTRAITS OF PAUL I, EMPEROR OF RUSSIA (1754-1801); and EMPRESS MARIE FEODOROVNA (1758-1828)
A pair, oil on canvas
Each 68 x 50cm. (2)
* The Emperor is wearing the Order of St Alexander Nevsky and the Empress is wearing the Order of St Catherine. The subjects are derived from prime versions of c.1777, of which several variants and copies are recorded.
A letter to an ancestor of the vendor from HM Queen Mary (written at Badminton), dated March 12th 1945, reads I am rather pleased with myself, because I was right about your two pictures, being those of the Emperor Paul I of Russia & his wife. The King's Librarian Sir Owen Morshead has verified this from our portraits in the Royal Library & has pencilled a note on Paul I photograph & I have done so on the other photographs. I enjoyed my visit so much to you and Mrs Eberle and seeing your charming collection of pictures, china & glass. The grotto too was a of special interest. Believe me, yours very sincerely, Mary R
