An exquisite portrait of Princess Maria Louisa Albertina of Hesse-Darmstadt.

(1766 Neustrelitz – 1852 ibid.) Oval portrait of Princess Maria Louise Albertina of Hesse-Darmstadt, also known as "Princess George". A finely painted Empire-era court portrait in a blue Empire dress, her head wrapped in a delicate, white, transparent veil. Painted in 1802 in Neustrelitz, where the subject lived at the court of her son-in-law, Duke Charles II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1741–1816). Oil on canvas; signed and dated 1802 on the reverse, with the signature "Louise (...) Landgravine (/) George Hessen Darmstadt (/) Countess Leiningen Broich", and an original dedicatory inscription "To Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, Princess of Bavaria the Queen". 36 cm x 29 cm. Original frame. Princess Maria Louise Albertina of Hesse-Darmstadt (1729–1818), born Countess of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg, was the heiress of the Lordship of Broich. In 1748 she married the brother of the reigning Landgrave Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her granddaughter was later Queen Louise of Prussia (1776–1810), whom she raised. The dedication refers to her granddaughter Augusta Amalia Ludovica of Bavaria (1788–1851), daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (1756–1825). In 1806 she married Eugène de Beauharnais (1781–1824), stepson of Emperor Napoleon I. From 1806 to 1814 she was Vicereine of Italy, and from 1817 Duchess of Leuchtenberg and Princess of Eichstätt. Provenance: Princess Maria Louise Albertina of Hesse-Darmstadt (1729–1818); Augusta Amalia Ludovica of Bavaria (1788–1851). Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1803 with information about the subject on the reverse, as well as an original dedicatory inscription to her granddaughter. Original frame.