| Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Franz Xaver Winterhalter |
| Year | 1865 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 255 cm× 133 cm(100 in× 52 in) |
| Location | Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria is an 1865 portrait painting by the German artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter. It depicts Elisabeth in Bavaria, Empress of Austria from 1854 to 1898. She is depicted in a courtly gala dress with star shaped diamond hairpins. This portrait presents the Empress in a romantic fashion, enhancing her reputation as one of the great beauties of her time. [1] The Empress appears in a sensual pose with naked shoulders and turning her head towards the viewer. She is wearing a white satin and tulle dress dotted with silver foil stars and with diamond stars in her hair. This portrait is one of Empress Elisabeth's most iconic representations and one of Winterhalter's best-known works. [1]
Winterhalter was a celebrated portraitist, known for his depictions of French and British royalty in particular. He arrived in Vienna in September 1864 to produce this and a pendant painting of Elisabeth's husband Franz Joseph I. [1] The painting is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
