Artwork

Maria Anna of Sulzbach

Maria Anna of Sulzbach, by Georg Desmarées, oil, 1745
Maria Anna of Sulzbach, by Georg Desmarées, oil, 1745

Maria Anna of Sulzbach is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Georg Desmarées. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Maria Anna of Sulzbach is an oil portrait by Georg Desmarées, created in 1745. The painting is a representation of Countess Palatine Maria Anna of Sulzbach and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a woman, likely in a formal or ceremonial context, given her elaborate attire and jewelry. Her dignified appearance and ornate clothing suggest a high social status.

Technique & Style

The artist employed soft brushstrokes to achieve a smooth, lifelike rendering of the subject's skin. The use of chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, draws attention to the subject's face and shoulders, creating a sense of depth and volume.

Context

The painting's formal qualities and the subject's attire are characteristic of 18th-century portraiture, particularly in the representation of nobility.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Georg Desmarées

Artist

Georg Desmarées

Georg Desmarées (1697–1776) was a German artist, born in Stockholm City.