Augustin Ritt

wearing a dark coat and white cravat, with the sash of the Order of St. Andrew and the badge of the Order of St. Alexander-Nevsky, silver-gilt frame set with cultured pearls and garnets

Graf Karl Lanckoronski-Brzezie;
Ernst Holzscheiter, his sale in these Rooms, 28 March 1977, lot 181

Leisching 1898, pp. 137/8; 
Komelova 2004, p. 49

Ivory ground. This miniature is in very fine condition, with good lively brushwork.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In a list of his work Augustin Ritt recorded that he painted two portraits of Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich, in 1792 and 1793. Galina Komelova (see literature) linked these cited portraits, signed but undated, to miniatures in the Russian Museum and ex-Brewster collection (respectively Komelova 2004, cat. nos. 1, 2, figs. 12, 13, the latter sold in these Rooms, 14 December 1995, lot 60). She also noted the existence of an untraced third portrait of the Grand Duke by Ritt, which was recorded as being in the collection of Graf Karl Lanckoronski-Brzezie in 1898 (Leisching, see literature). The present lot is that miniature.

All three miniatures show the Grand Duke from the same angle, however, in the oval-shaped Brewster version more of his buttoned coat is shown.