Biedermeierglas

Due to the high-quality detailed engraving this portrait is attributed to Dominik Biemann, the ingenious glass cutter of the Biedermeier period who studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. In Franzensbad, the most prestigious spa resort at the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Biemann operated his own sales studio during spa season. Even princes and kings came to see him there to have their portraits engraved in glass by this outstanding artist. As in the model used for the portrait of Archduchess Sophie, a lithograph by Josef Kriehuber from 1836, the Archduchess is seated on a wingback chair, her head turned to the left. The soft lines of the young archduchess‘s face are just as masterfully rendered as her expressive eyes and fashionable hairstyle. There are several comparable portraits of high society ladies signed by Dominik Biemann that are equal to this portrait, both in quality and excellence of execution. In his personal notes, Biemann describes Archduke Franz Karl‘s visit to his studio in Franzensbad. On this occasion, the latter saw a copperplate engraving of Archduchess Sophie hanging on the wall, and Biemann recounts that he saw the Archduchess in winter (1839/1840) and engraved her portrait on glass, which the Archduke had already seen.