Who painted Maria Amalia de Saxony?

Maria Amalia de Saxony was painted by Louis de Silvestre in 1738.

Where can I see Maria Amalia de Saxony?

Maria Amalia de Saxony is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Maria Amalia de Saxony?

Maria Amalia de Saxony is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Maria Amalia de Saxony?

Museum-quality prints of Maria Amalia de Saxony are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Maria Amalia de Saxony

Louis de Silvestre , 1738

Maria Amalia de Saxony is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Louis de Silvestre. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting functions as a representation of the sitter's royal status and identity.

The work is a formal portrait depicting Maria Amalia of Saxony as its sole main subject. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting functions as a representation of the sitter's royal status and identity. The composition focuses entirely on the figure of Maria Amalia, adhering to the conventions of court portraiture intended to document and honor the likeness of nobility.

No additional allegorical figures or complex symbolic attributes are described in the available records; the significance of the piece lies in its direct depiction of the Saxon princess who later became Queen of Spain.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures 260 cm in height by 181 cm in width. Its handling aligns with the portrait genre of the early eighteenth century, emphasizing the sitter’s regal presence through smooth modeling and refined detailing. The composition centers on Maria Amalia de Saxony, rendered with careful attention to costume and facial features, typical of court portraiture of the period. The work’s surface appears stable, with no signs of structural damage reported in the record.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Maria Amalia of Saxony was painted by Louis de Silvestre in 1738, as indicated by both the artist’s record and the work’s cataloguing.

The painting entered the Museo del Prado’s holdings as part of the Spanish royal collection, later accessioned under Ferdinand VII of Spain. It is listed in the Prado’s inventory with dimensions of 260 cm in height and 181 cm in width, confirming its presence in the museum’s collection.

The portrait of Maria Amalia de Saxony by Louis de Silvestre is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It is located within the Royal Palace of Madrid and is identified as an oil painting on canvas created in 1738. Historical records indicate the work was owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain. The painting measures 260 cm in height and 181 cm in width.

Overview

Louis de Silvestre, a French painter active in the early 18th century, executed an oil‑on‑canvas portrait of Maria Amalia of Saxony in 1738. The work, now part of the Museo del Prado collection, exemplifies the Rococo style favored by European courts during that period.

Context

The painting reflects the diplomatic marriages that linked Saxony, Poland, and other European dynasties in the early 1700s. As a court portrait, it functioned both as a personal likeness and as a visual assertion of political alliances across the continent.