Painting

Title:

Charles Theodor, Elector of Bavaria

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1979.020.08

Creator:

Kellerhoven, Moritz (1758-1830)Artist

Place of Origin:

Munich, Germany

Date:

circa 1790

Description:

Portrait of Charles Theodor, Elector of Bavaria (1724-1799), by Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830), c. 1790. Oil on canvas on aluminum. Half-length standing portrait of a man facing slightly left; eyes toward viewer. The Elector has white hair tied in low queue and blue-gray eyes. He is in ceremonial dress with a blue coat with epaulets, red lapels and cuffs, buttons trimmed with gold embroidery and tassels, lace at cuffs, white shirt, black stock, red and green and blue sash, and a red ermine-lined mantle over his right shoulder. Wearing two large medals on his left breast and one around his neck on a red ribbon; holds a baton in his right hand. Elaborate gold and silver sword belt at waist with sword with a gold and silver hilt. Brown background. Unsigned. Paper label with ink inscription written by Countess Rumford on frame's reverse: "This is One of the finest likenesses perhaps ever taken of Charles Theodore, Late Elector of Bavaria--taken by the celebrated artist Kellerhoffe--in the possession of Count Rumford who was in the Bavarian service a number of years. (Now Concord 3d June 1852, entrusted to [ ]." A printed label for Joseph Maximilian pasted to the frame refers to 1970.20.11 rather than this painting. Frame nameplate: "CHARLES THEODOR / Elector of Bavaria. / Kellerhoven." Gilded gesso over wood frame with egg-and-leaf exterior molding, ropework and folate interior, corner blocks with rosettes, crested with laurel leaves, crown, and possible feather; crest is a separate piece.

Material:

Textile
Aluminum

Dimensions:

H-44.1 W-32.2 inches

Provenance:

Originally owned by Sarah Thompson, Countess Rumford, who bequeathed her collection of family portraits to her cousin Joseph Burbeen Walker (1822-1913) in 1852. The portraits then passed to his son Charles R. Walker (1852-1922), and to his grandson Sheafe Walker, the donor.

Credit Line:

Bequest of Sheafe Walker

People:

Kellerhoven, Moritz (1758-1830), Theodor, Charles, Thompson, Benjamin (1753-1814), Walker, Sheafe (1888-1978)

Subjects:

Theodor, Charles, Monarchy, Portraits, Portrait paintings