Marie-Louise of Austria Bidding Farewell to her Family in Vienna

The painting was created in 1812 by Pauline Auzou, depicting Marie-Louise of Austria saying farewell to her family in Vienna. It was commissioned by Napoleon and first shown at the Salon of 1812. The work entered the collection of the Palace of Versailles and remains part of the museum's holdings there.

It was recorded in the French national inventory as early as 1810, with documentation preserved in the Joconde database.

The painting measures 115.5 centimeters in height and 153.5 centimeters in width, executed in oil on canvas. It was produced in France under the Neoclassical school and is categorized as a history painting. Its provenance traces from the Salon exhibition to imperial ownership and eventual inclusion in the Palace of Versailles collection.

The subject is Marie-Louise, Duchess of Parma, along with several members of the Austrian imperial family, reflecting the diplomatic and familial ties between the French and Austrian courts in the early 19th century.

Created in 1812 by Pauline Auzou, this oil on canvas presents a staged farewell scene within an opulently appointed interior. The composition centers on a woman in a white gown edged with blue, clasping the hand of a man dressed in a red‑and‑gold military uniform, while surrounding figures, children and women, observe the moment with varied expressions.

Executed during the Napoleonic era, the piece captures a moment of transition for the Austrian archduchesses amid shifting European power structures. By depicting a personal farewell, Auzou aligns the private emotions of the Habsburgs with broader themes of exile, marriage alliances, and the reconfiguration of royal households in the early 19th century.