Portrait Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Cassel (1787-1867)
In dress uniform, facing the viewer. Plate on front reads Nikolai Koscheljoff (Russian, 1838-1861) and is a misattribution.

Signed lower left "August Schiott 1868"

Verso bears two Hermitage inventory numbers among other markings.

Oil on canvas

Image: 25.5 x 20 in.; Frame: 36 x 31 in.
Carved gilt wood frame
Condition: Some inpainting evident under black light.

Prince Wilhelm was married to Princess Charlotte of Denmark, father to Louise, Queen of Denmark (Christian IX's wife), and therefore grandfather to Maria Feodorovna. The painting is dated after his death and was most likely sent to St. Petersburg for the Empress as a memento of her Grandfather. A similar painting was sent to her brother, George I of Greece at the same time. Link to the Christie's sale of the similar painting here.


Identification was made by identifying the honorific medals on his chest. He would have been presented with the highest Danish Orders as the father to the Queen presumptive (and husband of a Princess of the Danish line) and would naturally have the Hesse-Kassel Orders as a member of the ruling family of the Landgraviate.

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