Portraits by one of the 19th century’s most renowned painters of European aristocracy are on view during this monumental exhibition in….
Over his illustrious career, painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873) consistently displayed an uncanny ability to capture with skill the elegance and opulence of Europe’s most distinguished individuals. He is hailed as one of the 19th century’s most accomplished portraitists, and Winterhalter’s works are often cited in the fields of high fashion, art history, and sociology.
Forty-five delightful works by Winterhalter are on view now at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston through August 16. Via the museum webpage: “This major survey features works drawn from public, private, and royal collections around the world.”
Franz Xaver Winterhalter, “Édouard André,” 1857, oil on canvas,
(c) Musée Jacquemart-André, Institut de France, Paris 2016
The German-born Winterhalter (1805–1873) gained popularity in Paris and became the preferred portraitist of England’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and his services were eventually in much demand throughout Europe. He was celebrated for his ability to capture likenesses and for his superb rendering of textures and fashionable details.
Although many of Winterhalter’s iconic portraits of European nobility predate the entry of couturier Worth (1825–1895) into the field of fashion, their client lists among elegant women of the European courts overlapped. High Society showcases about 45 of Winterhalter’s magnificent paintings, along with glamorous evening gowns and other couture garments from the period.”
To learn more, visit the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
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