Austrian school: Portraits of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Joseph II, oil on canvas, second half 18th C.

Work: 114,5 x 92,5 cm

Frame: 119 x 98 cm

Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma. By marriage, she was Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress (link). Her son Joseph II (German: Josef Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; English: Joseph Benedict Anthony Michael Adam; 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 18 August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg lands from 29 November 1780 until his death. He was the brother of Marie Antoinette, Maria Carolina of Austria and Maria Amalia, Duchess of Parma. He was thus the first ruler in the Austrian dominions of the union of the Houses of Habsburg and Lorraine (link).

Provenance:

- Sotheby's, Regensburg, 'Die Fürstliche Sammlung Thurn und Taxis', 19-21 October 1993, lot 3180 (StE13651 and StE13652; Schloss St. Emmeram).