ATTRIBUTED TO JOHANN FRIEDRICH DRYANDER (GERMAN, 1756-1812)

The sitter a the daughter of Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his first wife, Princess Frederica of Hesse-Darmstadt. In 1785, Charlotte married Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, becoming Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen. They had twelve children together. She was a sister of the legendary Queen Luise of Prussia (see lot 152).
According to Neil Jeffares, the present portrait could possibly be one of the two miniatures painted by Dryander for the sitter and listed in the artist's workbook. See also N. Jeffares, Dictionary of Pastellists before 1800, London, 2006, p. 485 for a comparable pastel.
We are indebted to Neil Jeffares for his assistance with the preparation of this catalogue entry.