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Martin van Meytens the Younger, Empress Maria Theresa

The Empress Maria Theresa (1717–1780) clad in an opulent ceremonial robe, is standing beside a carved and gilded wooden table. In her left hand she holds an archduke’s crown, while in the background we see the crowns of Saint Stephen and Saint Wenceslas. This arrangement permits a dating of the painting to the time before Maria Theresa was crowned as queen of Hungary (1741) and of Bohemia (1743).

Stylistically the picture is typical of Martin van Meytens, but it is possible that some pupil or assistant helped with the finishing. A replica of this painting is kept in the Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien; it is practically identical with our painting, but a number of simplified details lead us to the conclusion that the Vienna replica is the work of the artist’s workshop.

Artist Martin van Meytens the Younger

Year of creation (after 1742)

Technique oil, canvas

Dimensions 280 x 184,5 cm

Inventory number NG S 1350, National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana

Collection 1700–1800

Restored: 1960, ZSV, Ljubljana.
Provenance: Cekinov grad, Ljubljana; Narodni muzej, Ljubljana, until 1934 (?).
Exhibitions: 1960, Ljubljana, No. 80; 1981, Gorizia, No.I/2; 1983, Ljubljana, No. 69.
Lit.: Cevc 1960, p. 34, Cat. No. 80, Fig. 39; Coronini Cronberg 1981, p. 37, Cat. No. and Fig. I/2; Zeri [& Rozman] 1983, pp. 143–144, Cat. No. 69, Fig. 70.