Painting

Title:

Baroness Friederike Eleonore Sophie von Kalb

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1979.020.04

Creator:

Unknown

Place of Origin:

Probably German

Date:

circa 1795

Description:

Painting. Portrait of Friederike Eleonore Sophie von Kalb (1764-1831), unknown artist, c. 1795. Pastel crayon on paper. Bust-length portrait of a woman, facing right; eyes toward viewer. Sitter has a curly white wig and blue eyes. She is wearing a blue gown with draping on bodice and gold detailing, lace-trimmed neckline. Black background. Paper label with ink inscription by Countess Rumford on the reverse: "This lady is the Baroness of Kalbe / of Leipsic, a very particular friend of / Count Rumford's--she being besides / very good and beautiful, as of great celebrity." Gilded gesso over wood frame with low-relief foilate exterior bands, spandrels and glazing, cartouches on corner spandrels.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-11.9 W-10.25 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:

von Kalb, Friederike Eleonore Sophie (1764-1831), Thompson, Benjamin (1753-1814), Thompson, Sarah (1774-1852), Walker, Joseph Burbeen (1822-1913), Walker, Sheafe (1888-1978), Walker, Charles R. (1852-1922)

Subjects:

Baroness De Kalbe, Portrait drawings, Portraits