Exquisite portrait of Princess Maria Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt

(1766 Neustrelitz - 1852 ibid) Oval portrait of Princess Maria Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt, also known as "Princess George". Finely painted, courtly Empire bust portrait in a blue Empire dress, her head enveloped in a delicate, white, transparent veil. Painted in 1802 in Neustrelitz, where the depicted lived at the court of her son-in-law, Duke Karl II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1741-1816). Oil on canvas; verso signed and dated 1802 and labeled "Louise (...) Landgräfin (/) George zu Hessen Darmstadt (/) Gräfin zu Leiningen Broich", original label with dedication "To her Royal Highness the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, née Princess Royal of Bavaria". 36 cm x 29 cm. Original frame. Princess Maria 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 Ludwig IX of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her granddaughter was the later Queen Louise of Prussia (1776-1810), whom she educated. The dedication refers to her granddaughter Auguste Amalia Ludovika 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 Viceroy of Italy, and from 1817, Duchess of Leuchtenberg and Princess of Eichstätt. Provenance: Princess Maria Louise Albertine of Hesse-Darmstadt (1729-1818); Auguste Amalia Ludovika of Bavaria (1788-1851). Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1803 with information about the sitter on the reverse, further an original label with dedication to her granddaugher. Original frame.