Portrait of a Young Girl, possibly a Princess (after Lucas Cranach the Younger)
Drawing / Mixed Media on paper • Anonymous, school of the 19th-century academic revival; after a 16th-century Northern Renaissance composition by the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger.
Style & Movement
Northern Renaissance Style (Historicist Revival)
Medium & Technique
Pastel, chalk, or gouache over a printed or charcoal underdrawing; predominantly soft dry media with delicate blending in the facial features and linear definition in the ruff and hair.
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (Historicist Revival period)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 20 cm (Sight size); Portrait format
Subject Description
A bust-length portrait of a young girl with a high forehead, blonde hair adorned with a floral wreath and a braided band. She wears a high-necked chemise with a pleated ruff collar typical of 16th-century Saxon court costume. The gaze is direct and aristocratic.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair; stable but showing signs of age and light damage.
Estimated Market Value
$300 - $800 USD
Auction Estimate
$200 - $500 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely a high-quality decorative reproduction or study from a European private collection, potentially acquired as part of the Grand Tour or early 20th-century art market.
Art Historical Significance
This work is a fine example of the 19th-century fascination with the German Renaissance. While not a period original, it captures the 'Cranach' aesthetic which was highly prized by collectors like the Rothschilds and the royal houses of Europe during the 1800s.
Notable Features
The work features a monogram in the lower right (possibly 'SA' or a variant) and utilizes a selective coloring technique where the face is fully realized while the torso remains in a skeletal, linear state, a common aesthetic in 19th-century artist studies.
Condition Issues
Visible water staining or foxing spots on the left and right background; minor surface abrasions; probable light yellowing of the paper support due to acid migration from a wooden backboard; slight fading of the pigments.
Conservation Recommendations
Urgently recommend removing from the current frame to check for acidic backing; remounting with archival acid-free materials and UV-protective museum glass is suggested to prevent further fading and staining.