Moritz Stifter
Portrait of a woman
Oil on panel signed “M. Stifter” in the upper right
This portrait by Moritz Stifter reflects the fashion for “fantasy portraits” that flourished in Europe during the second half of the 19th century. The young woman, shown in profile, wears a sumptuous Renaissance costume in emerald green velvet, embellished with pearls, gold embroidery, a pearl necklace and a ruby pendant. Her attire is crowned with an imposing tiara adorned with stones and multicoloured feathers.Read more
Such representations were not intended to depict a real sitter, but rather to evoke an idealised vision of an aristocratic past, shaped by the historicist imagination of the 19th century. More than an individual portrait, it is a typological figure, embodying an ideal of beauty and refinement.
Stifter specialised in these alluring compositions, much appreciated by the Viennese bourgeoisie, who sought refined and decorative images blending historical evocation with a taste for luxury. This work perfectly illustrates that spirit, where painting becomes both an object of contemplation and the expression of an imagined golden age.
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