Artwork
Princess Pauline Metternich (1836–1921) on the Beach
Princess Pauline Metternich (1836–1921) on the Beach is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Eugène Louis Boudin. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting, "Princess Pauline Metternich on the Beach," was created by the French artist Eugène Boudin in the mid-19th century.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Boudin situates her on a beach, a setting that evokes leisure and the emerging culture of coastal recreation among the European elite.
The painting portrays Princess Pauline von Metternich, the Austrian diplomat's wife and noted 19th-century fashion arbiter, standing on a northern French shoreline and gazing toward the sea. Boudin situates her on a beach, a setting that evokes leisure and the emerging culture of coastal recreation among the European elite. Her presence on the sands, dressed in contemporary attire, underscores her status as a style influencer, while the expansive horizon suggests both personal reflection and the broader social openness of the Second Empire era.
The work merges portraiture with genre scenery, using the beach as a backdrop to highlight the sitter's public persona and the period's fascination with fashion and leisure.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1865, this work by Eugène Boudin is an oil painting created on a cardboard support mounted onto a wood panel for stability. The composition captures Princess Pauline von Metternich gazing toward the sea from a beach in northern France. The piece reflects Boudin's mid-19th-century approach to depicting contemporary figures within coastal landscapes. The physical dimensions are approximately 29.5 by 23.5 cm.
History & Provenance
Princess Pauline Metternich on the Beach was created by Eugène Louis Boudin in 1865, executed in oil on cardboard laid down on wood. The painting depicts Pauline von Metternich, wife of the Austrian ambassador to the court of Napoleon III, on a beach in northern France. It was formerly owned by Walter Annenberg before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remains.
Overview
This painting, "Princess Pauline Metternich on the Beach," was created by the French artist Eugène Boudin in the mid-19th century. It captures Princess Pauline von Metternich, a prominent figure in European society, gazing towards the sea. The work is executed in oil on cardboard, which is then mounted on wood, reflecting a common practice of the period for outdoor studies or more intimate portraits.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Louis Boudin (French: ; 12 July 1824 – 8 August 1898) was one of the first French landscape painters to paint outdoors.
