18th Century Engraved Antique Portrait Miniature of Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1735-1806)

An 18th-century engraved antique portrait miniature of Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1735-1806).

The engraving has the incorrect spelling of Karl as "Carl" and bears an inscription in German.

Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Herzog von Braunschweig-Lüneburg was head of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a princely state of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1764 he married Princess Augusta, a sister of George III of Great Britain. He served in the Severn Years' War under his uncle, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1721-92), and successfully defended Hanover from French invasion with the Duke of Cumberland. This naturally earned the gratitude of the Hanoverian monarchs, with the result that the British Monarchy's Royal Collection has three pairs of portraits depicting this heroic uncle and nephew team: this pair (RCIN 404638 and 404640), and two others by Ziesenis (RCIN 401370 & 401379 and RCIN 405906-7). Karl II fought subsequently in the War of Bavarian Succession and the Invasion of the Netherlands, becoming Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1787. In this portrait, he wears a blue velvet frock coat with the star of the Garter. Several copies and duplicates are spread throughout British private collections, one of which is attributed to Ziesenis.

Presented behind antique glass in an early 19th-century antique Biedermeier Period wooden frame.

Provenance - Unknown.

Condition - Please refer to the images. There are minor age-related surface scratches to the frame. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size - (Including frame) - Height 24 cm x Width 20 cm (9 1/2" x 7 7/8")