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| Martin van Meytens "Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria" 1750 |
Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria (1742-1798) was known to her family as "Mimi’. She was the fifth child and fourth daughter of the Empress Maria Theresa, and was openly known to be her favorite. This disparity in parental affection led to a certain coolness with her siblings. For instance, as an adult when Mimi visited her sister Queen Marie Antoinette she is said to have asked repeatedly to be allowed to see the Petit Trianon but her request was pointedly not granted.
Although Mimi's artistic output is unknown, her doting parents were extremely proud of her considerable artistic talents and this portrait of Mimi drawing was commissioned in 1750 from the artist Martin Van Meytens (1695 – 1770.) Van Meytens was born in Sweden and studied with his father, Martin Meytens the elder. Van Meytens the younger traveled around Europe further studying his craft and painting the aristocracy. He became more and more popular and in 1732 he was appointed the court painter of Austia. "His personal virtues, varied interests, erudition and pleasant manners were highly appreciated by his contemporaries." (quotation from Wikipedia)
