ATTRIBUTED TO GIUSEPPE BALDRIGHISTRADELLA 1722-1803 PARME | Portrait of Princess Isabella of Parma (1741-1763)

Dans un cadre en bois sculpté

The colors of the actual painting are a little less white than the photograph would suggest. The painting shows more contrast. To the naked eye : -The painting seems to be in a good overall condition -The canvas has been relined and is well stretched -The painted surface has been a little flattened by the relining -Some restorations are visible especially in the backgrounds including 1 of about 4,5 cm in the background of the right picture half. With the UV light : -Scattered restorations are visible in the dark background, a bigger one (maybe an old tear) in the right of the figure’s neck, another one (also an old tear) in her chin, some spots on the hair and on the top of her forehead, spots everywhere on her dress and a little bigger one at the bottom of her dress.
"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."

Princess Isabella of Parma (1741-1763), grand-daughter of King Louis XV, grew up at the court of Madrid being the daughter of the Infante Felipe of Spain, Duke of Parma and his wife, Louise Elisabeth of France. Afterwards she was at the paternal duchy of Parma, where Giuseppe Baldrighi, the same painter to whom our portrait is attributed, realized their family portrait in 1755¹. Some years earlier, at Versailles, Jean-Marc Nattier made a portrait of her and her mother in 1750.²
In 1760, just after the death of her mother, Isabella of Parma married Archduke Joseph of Austria (1764-1790), who later became the emperor Joseph II in 1764. In Vienna, highly praised for her beauty and intelligence, she writes some works but tragically died very young, at only 22 years old, after giving birth to her second daughter.