(ca.1696 - 1756)
Carl Albrecht (1697-1745), Elector of Bavaria and later Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII, in the hunting Livery of the Emperor. a Hunt in a Landscape beyond
Oil on canvas; 239 x 126 cm
Painted 1742-1744
In 19th century carved giltwood frame with curved top and shell and strap carved corner mounts.
Provenance: Franz Ludwig, Count Holnstein, Schloss Thalhausen, Upper Bavaria
By descent
Private collection, Schloss Heimhausen, Bavaria
Carl Albrecht was born in Brussels on 6 August 1697, the eldest son of Elector Max Emanuel of Bavaria and a member of the great Wittelsbach dynasty. He married Maria Amalia, younger daughter of the late Emperor Joseph I, and niece of the reigning Emperor Charles VI in 1722. Upon the death of his father in 1726 he took over the government of Bavaria as Elector. Once Elector he inaugurated an active political reign designed to make Bavaria a major player in European affairs.He was elected Emperor Charles VII in Frankfurt in January 1742, but died on 20 January 1745 and with him disappeared the last great expression of Bavarian international ambition.
Franz Joseph Winter excelled at the grand manner portraits which were so popular at the start of the eighteenth century. The Residenz in Munich has another portrait by Winter of Carl Albrecht, with the Nymphenburg in the background.
