Oval portrait of a young noblewoman from a Baltic noble family

(1804 or 1805, Pyussi estate, Estonia – 1877, St. Petersburg) An oval portrait of a young noblewoman from the Baltic noble family Zoege von Manteuffel, executed in a very delicate, brilliant painting manner. The portrait stands out for its subtle, characteristic depiction and the liveliness of its open expression, with the lady looking at us with bright reflections in her olive-green eyes. The entire figure, slightly turned in profile, is masterfully modeled with a soft color glaze of ivory and pink tones, while dark blonde hair is braided on both sides. A view of a wide, green landscape with a fragrant blue summer sky in the background completes the harmonious expression conveyed by the entire portrait. Dated 1827, it belongs to the earliest masterpieces of the outstanding German-Baltic artist. Neff studied painting at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts from 1824, and after graduating in 1826, he traveled and divided his time between his homeland in Estonia, Italy, and St. Petersburg. Thanks to his talent as a portraitist, he quickly attracted the attention of the Russian court and became a court artist. From 1839, Neff taught at the Academy of Fine Arts, and in 1849 he was awarded the title of professor. Neff, who often attended salons and the highest aristocratic circles, was one of the most important portraitists of his time in the Russian Empire, which at that time also included the Baltic region. Oil on canvas; signed and dated "C. T. Neff 1827" (with "C. T." connected) on the upper right shoulder of the depicted person. On the reverse side, there is an inscription in another hand, with information about the person depicted from the Zoege von Manteuffel family. 62.5 cm x 53.5 cm. In a frame. Karl Timoleon von Neff was the son of Heinrich Otto Zoege von Manteuffel (1779–1883) and the stepson of Anna Christina Zoege von Manteuffel (née Countess Dyuker, 1788–1829), which gave him a connection to the noble family; the artist Otto Zoege von Manteuffel (1822–1889) assisted Karl Timoleon von Neff in creating the frescoes in St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The Art Museum of Estonia in Tallinn owns, among many works by Neff, also a portrait pair of the Zoege von Manteuffel family. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated "C. T. Neff 1827." Inscription on the reverse.