Lot 32: Anthelme François Lagrenée (French, 1774-1832)

An Imperial gift, A portrait of a Lady, probably Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (1789-1860), in profile to the left, wearing dress pinned with beads, her hair upswept in a bun and dressed with flowers
en grisaille with ochre against a marbled grey background, gilt-mount
Oval, 61mm. (2 3/8ins.) high

General Count Alexander Christoforovich Benckendorff
By family descent through four generations

The present lot and lot 40 were given by Emperor Nicholas I to his close friend, General Alexander Benckendorff (1783-1844). Benckendorff, known as 'The Gendarme', was Minister of Police and responsible for the 3rd Department (secret police), under the Tsar. Whilst most ministers had doubts about his suitability for these posts, because of his amiable nature and absent-mindedness (sometimes even forgetting his own name), Nicholas was extremely satisfied. In 1837 he said, 'During the eleven years in which he holds this office, he never involved me in any incidents, and he has reconciled me with a lot of people.'. He was granted the title of 'Count' on November 8, 1832. Many of Alexander's family also held high positions within the Imperial Russian court, right up until the death of Nicholas II.
Lagrenée worked in St. Petersberg, where he was he had great success and painted many portraits of the aristocracy, including the royal family. Given the provenance of the present miniature, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, seems the likely sitter.
Born Princess Charlotte of Prussia (1798-1860), daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg Streliz. Alexandra married Nicholas I in 1817, a marriage which was a political and dynastic arrangement by their fathers, but resulted in a very happy and loving union.