Figure 1.-- This is Louis Philippe Albert Orleans, Count of Paris painted by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1838-94. The portrait is sometunes dated to 1839, but 1842 is more likely. There is no doubt about where it was painted. Today the Eifel Tower symbilizes Paris. At the time it was Notre Dame. This portrait had a significant impact on Winterhalter’s reputation as a portraitist of high society, helping o establh the reputation of the young artist in Paris. TYhe boy wears a white dress and unusually long pantalettes holding an impressive plummed wide-brimmed hat.

After the Revolution, France returned to Napoleonic and than back to Burbon royalty and then back to Napoleonic royalty. Winterhaltar painted in Germany with increasng success (until the mid-1830s). It is at this time that he left Baden to pusue his artistic career. His Italian genre scene 'Il dolce Farniente' attracted notice at the Salon (1836). 'Il Decameron' also receoved warm reception (1837). These were academic works rather like Raphael work. Then in the Salon he exhibited a notable portrait of the Prince of Wagram with his young daughter which impressed the critics (1838). At the same time he painted Louise of Orléans, Queen of the Belgians, and her son. this is believed to hve resulted in him coming to the notice of Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies, Queen of the French, mother of the Queen of the Belgians. Winterhalter became fashionablein Pris. As a result King Louis-Philippe appointed him Court Painter. He was commissioned to paint individual portraits of the large royal family. This led to more than 30 commissions. Only right before Winterhalter died was the Republic restored (1871). While he is beat known for his portraits of Europran royalty, he did some historical work. Two of his most highly regarded historical paintings are 'Florinda' and 'Susana and the Elders'. Empress Eugénie is thought to have posed for his Florinda. Period art critics were not impressed. We note a portrait of the Comte De Paris as a boy in white dress and unusually long pantalettes holding an impressive plummed wide-brimmed hat.

Created: 4:39 AM 1/24/2026
Last updated: 4:39 AM 1/24/2026