Portret van August van Leuchtenberg

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van August vanuchtenberg** is a delicate etching by Johann Nepomuk Mel, a 19th-century German engr known for his precise portrait work. Created sometime between 1815 and1870, this small-scale print (165mm × 152mm) captures the of August, Duke of Leuchtenberg—a Swedish-French nobleman and member of Napoleon's extended family. As a grandson of Empress Joséphine, August embodied the grandeur of post-Napoleonic European aristocracy, blending Swedish royalty with French imperial legacy during a time of political upheaval and restoration. Etching, Muxel's chosen medium, allowed for intricate line work etched into a metal plate with acid, producing richly detailed reproductions ideal for disseminating elite portraits. This technique was particularly valued in the Biedermeier era for its affordability and fidelity, making noble images accessible beyond oil paintings. The print's intimate dimensions suggest it was designed for personal collections or albums, reflecting the era's fascination with physiognomy and status. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228 (Eugène Dutuit), this piece once graced the library of the renowned 19th-century French connoisseur, underscoring its appeal among discerning art lovers. Today, it offers a window into 19th-century print culture, where etching preserved the faces of history's elite with elegant restraint.

About the Artist

Johann Nepomuk Muxel · 1790–1870

Johann Nepomuk Muxel (1790-1870) was a German painter and etcher who devoted much of his career to documenting the celebrated art collection of Eugene de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg, through meticulous reproductive prints. Born on April 20, 1790, in Munich and dying on May 17, 1870, also in Munich, Muxel's eighty-year life spanned a crucial period in European art history when reproductive pr...