An exquisite portrait of Princess Marie Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt.

(1766 Neustrelitz – 1852 ibid.) Oval portrait of Princess Marie Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt, also known as "Princess George". A finely drawn Empire-era court portrait in a blue Empire-style 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, signature "Louise (...) Landgravine (/) George Hesse Darmstadt (/) Countess Leiningen Broich", original inscription with dedication "To Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, Princess of Bavaria, Queen". 36 cm x 29 cm. Original frame. Princess Marie Louise Albertine 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 Amelia 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 Marie Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt (1729–1818); Augusta Amelia 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.