Anton Raphael Mengs: Portrait of Maria Josefa de Lorena, Archduchess of Austria (1767)

(Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain)

A painting by the German artist Anton Raphael Mengs (1728– 1779). Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria (1751-1767) was the daughter of holy Roman emperor Francis I and Maria Theresa of Austria. She was engaged to king Ferdinand IV (III) of Naples and Sicily (the crown of which is in the background). Maria Josepha, however, died of smallpox at the age of 16 before the marriage. After her death, her sister Maria Carolina of Austria was given as a bride to the King of Naples in her place. This painting is from 1767, painted before her death.




Maria Josepha of Austria, daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. She was engaged to Ferdinand IV of Naples (the crown of which is in the background), but she died of smallpox at the age of 16 before the marriage.