Live Auction 5962Centuries of Style: Silver, European Ceramics, Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes
HEINRICH FRIEDRICH FÜGER (AUSTRIAN, 1751-1818)
Lot 240

HEINRICH FRIEDRICH FÜGER (AUSTRIAN, 1751-1818)

Closed28 November 2012

Price Realised

GBP 22,500

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HEINRICH FRIEDRICH FÜGER (AUSTRIAN, 1751-1818)
Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon (1717-1790), when Field Marshal, in gilt-bordered silver armour, white cravat, blue cloak draped over his right shoulder, wearing the sash of the Imperial Austrian Order of Maria Theresa, his right hand on the hilt of a sword
on ivory (artist's joins)
oval, 6½ in. (163 mm.) high, giltwood frame carved with laurel and berry border

Baron Othon von Bourgoing Collection, Vienna, in 1905.
Baroness Eugene de Rothschild; Christie's, London, 23 June 1981, lot 100.

Specialist note

Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon was an Austrian Field Marshal and one of the most successful opponents of the Prussian King Frederick the Great. As a young man he joined the Imperial Russian Army as cadet and fought against the French. In 1739 he went to the Russian court at St Petersburg where he remained for two years. He then joined the Austrian army and successfully fought against the troops of Frederick the Great during the Seven Years' War. After the war his services were in great demand and he was even approached by Frederick the Great to join his army. Laudon remained loyal to Austria and continued his military career in the army of Empress Maria Theresa. He was promoted to Field Marshal in 1776 in recognition of his services.
Füger painted Laudon several times (see R. Keil, Heinrich Friedrich Füger 1751-1818, Vienna, 2009, pp. 249-250, nos. 165-168 and p. 262, no. 203).