Bildnis Prinzessin Amalie

Joseph Karl Stieler painted this portrait of Princess Amalie of Bavaria in 1823, likely as part of his famous Gallery of Beauties commissioned by King Ludwig I. The Gallery, now in the Nymphenburg Palace, comprised 36 portraits of the most beautiful women of Munich society, from queens to commoners. Stieler's ability to combine idealized beauty with individual likeness made him the perfect artist for this unique commission.

Stieler's smooth, polished technique creates a porcelain-like complexion that epitomizes the idealized beauty Ludwig I sought for his gallery. The careful attention to costume and jewelry adds richness without detracting from the face's luminous beauty.