Lot 16

Unknown author PORTRAIT OF ELISABETH CHRISTINE OF BRUNSWICK-WOLFENBÜTTEL

Portrait of Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in a mourning dress with rich jewels, pearls in her hair, a fringed cloak with blue velvet and a princely crown. On her bodice is pinned the Order of the Star Cross (Sternkreuzorden), a Habsburg female domestic order awarded to this day. The patroness of the order was, for example, Maria Theresa. The order was only awarded to noblewomen without distinction of title. The only condition was descent from a specified number of noble ancestors in both the male and female line. Several noblewomen correspond in age, crown rank and order to the portrait presented here. Among them, for example, is Marie-Antoinette of Bavaria (1724 - 1780), Elector of Saxony.