Artwork
Marie Antoinette of Austria, Queen of France (1755-1793)
Marie Antoinette of Austria, Queen of France (1755-1793) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This specific attire identifies the subject as a woman engaged in equestrian pursuits, a style associated with active leisure rather than formal court ceremony.
The painting depicts Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, portrayed in an habit d'amazone (riding habit) in 1788. This specific attire identifies the subject as a woman engaged in equestrian pursuits, a style associated with active leisure rather than formal court ceremony. The composition focuses on the monarch as a woman, emphasizing her clothing and the hat she wears.
By selecting this informal, sporty costume, the work presents the Queen outside the rigid constraints of traditional royal regalia, highlighting a moment of personal activity and a specific aspect of her public image during the final years of her reign.
Technique & Style
Created in 1788, this portrait by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller is executed in oil paint on canvas. The work presents Marie Antoinette in an equestrian habit, depicting her alongside a hat and striped clothing. The composition focuses on the queen as the main subject, capturing her in a formal pose characteristic of the era's portraiture.
The painting measures approximately 65.5 cm in height and 54.4 cm in width, reflecting a standard scale for royal portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1788 by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller. It entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles shortly after its completion. The work remains on display in the Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon.
The provenance is straightforward, with the portrait moving directly from the artist’s studio to the French royal collection. No subsequent sales or transfers are recorded in the documented history of the piece.
The commission likely came from the French court, reflecting the queen’s desire for a contemporary portrait during her reign.
The portrait of Marie Antoinette of Austria, Queen of France, painted by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller in 1788, is held by the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles. Its inventory number is MV 8211. The work has been part of the museum's collection since its creation and has been displayed in exhibitions focused on French royal portraiture at the Palace of Versailles.
Context
The portrait of Marie Antoinette painted by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller in 1788 was exhibited at the Salon of 1789 and received considerable attention for its blend of aristocratic poise and emerging rococo sensibility, reflecting the cultural milieu of pre-revolutionary France. Contemporary critiques highlighted the work's refined brushwork and its role in shaping the queen's public image during a period of growing political tension, underscoring its significance within the broader narrative of European portraiture. Wertmüller's depiction, housed in the Museum of the History of France at Versailles, continues to inform scholarly discussions on royal iconography and the intersection of art and power in the late 18th century.
Overview
This oil painting is a portrait of Marie Antoinette, created by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, a Swedish artist trained in Stockholm and Paris.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller (February 18, 1751 – October 5, 1811) was a Swedish painter whose notable works include Danaë receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold.
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