Continental School

Portrait of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, née Princess Charlotte Württemberg (1807-1873)

Restricted Species

Lot Closed

January 14, 03:59 PM GMT

Estimate

800 - 1,200 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of the descendants of William & Robert Adam

Continental School

early 19th Century

Portrait of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, née Princess Charlotte Württemberg (1807-1873)

Watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, gilt-metal and enamel mount;

together with a letter, dated 28 October 1831, which explains the early provenance

44 by 29 mm.

This lot contains ivory. Due to recent changes in the laws of many countries (e.g. US, France) Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

Presented, according to the accompaning letter, to Charles Richard Fox (1796-1873) in October 1831;
Thence by descent.

The sitter was the eldest daughter of Prince Paul of Württemberg and Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In 1822 she became engaged to her cousin Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia and the following year took the name Elena Pavlovna. In 1824 the couple married in Saint Petersburg and went onto have five children.

The sitter presented this miniature to Charles Richard Fox, the illegitimate son of Henry, 3^rd Baron Holland and Lady Webster, who served in both the navy and army before and entering into politics. In 1824 he married Lady Mary FitzClarence, a daughter of William IV by his mistress Dorothy Jordon.