PETER EDWARD STROEHLING (1766–dopo il 1828)

PETER EDWARD STROEHLING (1766–after 1828) DUKE KARL OF MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ Watercolor and gouache 8 x 6 cm / 3.1 x 2.4 in ABOUT THE ARTIST The late 18th and early 19th centuries represent the Golden Age of portrait miniatures, characterized by the rise of great artistic schools in France, England, Russia, and Switzerland. Each of these schools had unique and recognizable characteristics. However, some artists, such as Peter Edward Stroehling, transcended stylistic classifications, integrating diverse influences. Born in Düsseldorf in 1766, Stroehling likely received his early artistic training from his father, Johann Burhard Stroehling, or at a local school. After working in several German cities, he moved to Naples in 1792, where his international reputation began. The cosmopolitan environment of the city allowed him to attract English, Russian, and Austrian clients. By 1795, he was working in Vienna for the imperial family, and in 1797, he moved to Saint Petersburg, where his talent reached its peak. Stroehling mastered the art of capturing the character of his subjects with extraordinary finesse. After leaving Russia in 1802, he stayed briefly in Berlin before settling in London in 1803, where he remained until 1828. IDENTIFICATION Identifying the subjects in miniatures is a challenge, requiring not only visual comparisons but also contextual connections between the artist and the model. This is the case with the portrait of Duke Karl of Mecklenburg. The miniature came from a family collection that included two other works attributed to Stroehling, one of which likely depicted Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The hairstyle, clothing, and style of mustache of the subject suggested the fashions of the 1810s, a period when Stroehling lived in England. A key clue emerged from an engraving made by Giovanni Vendramini in 1814 in London, with the following inscription: «Drawn by P.E. Stroehling, Historical Painter to HRH the Prince Regent & Engraved by J. Vendramini.» The engraving identified the subject as: «His Serene Highness Charles, Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,» known for his courage during the Napoleonic Wars. The comparison between the miniature and the engraving confirmed the identity of the subject as Duke Karl, brother of Duchess Charlotte Georgine. THE SUBJECT DEPICTED AND ITS ICONOGRAPHY Duke Karl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (full name Karl Friedrich August zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz) was an important Prussian general and politician. He played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars (1805-1815) and maintained a strong political influence in Prussia. A member of the powerful Mecklenburg-Strelitz dynasty, Karl leveraged his family connections – his half-sister Louise was the wife of King Frederick William III of Prussia. Appointed president of the Council of State, he helped balance liberal reforms with the strengthening of absolutism. His pragmatic approach was crucial for the rise of Prussia as a unifying force in Germany. Wladyslaw Maximowicz Bratislava, 2021