Artwork
Portrait of Louise, queen of Prussia
Portrait of Louise, queen of Prussia is an oil painting by Wilhelm Ternite. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Wilhelm Ternite, a German portraitist active in Berlin, painted an oil portrait of Louise of Prussia around 1836. The work, executed on canvas, is presently housed in Warsaw’s National Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with curly hair, a white dress, and a blue shawl, complemented by a white headband that frames her forehead and a larger, decorative curl on the left side. Her expression is restrained, reflecting the formal conventions of royal portraiture.
Technique & Style
Ternite employs a dark background that isolates the figure, while careful modeling of light and shadow creates chiaroscuro, giving the portrait a three‑dimensional presence. The handling of the fabric and hair demonstrates his skill in rendering texture within the oil medium.
History & Provenance
Created while Ternite served as court painter and inspector of the Royal Art Gallery, the painting later entered the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s 19th‑century European holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Friedrich Wilhelm Ternite (5 September 1786 – 22 October 1871) was a German portrait painter, miniaturist and lithographer. In Berlin, he served as a court painter and inspector of the Royal Art Gallery.
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