Maria Anna of Sulzbach (1722-1790)

Desmarées employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, setting the figure against a deep, unadorned background that isolates the illuminated face and richly textured costume. The contrast of light and shadow enhances the three‑dimensionality of the drapery and emphasizes the delicate lace details.

Created circa 1750, the portrait entered the holdings of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the Bavarian court, reflecting the painting’s original function as a representation of dynastic identity.

The work belongs to a period when German courts commissioned portraits to affirm lineage and status. Desmarées, a Swedish‑born painter active in Munich, blended French Rococo elegance with the more restrained German portrait tradition, evident in the balanced composition and refined detailing.