Count Adolphus von Kielmansegge

Location

Country: Other
City: stolen

Alfred, Count d’Orsay, dandy and amateur artist, was born in Paris, the son of one of Napoleon’s generals. He met Lord and Lady Blessington in 1822 and was romantically interested in Lady Blessington. Perhaps to divert D’Orsay’s attention from his wife, Lord Blessington wrote a will leaving his Irish property to one of his daughters, should either marry Count D’Orsay. D’Orsay chose 15 year old Lady Harriet Anne Gardiner and the couple married in Naples in 1827. It was not a happy union. Following the death of Lord Blessington and the breakdown of the Count’s marriage, D’Orsay and Lady Blessington became a prominent couple in fashionable society. D’Orsay died in Paris in 1852, having fled there with Lady Blessington to escape his debts.

Places

Subjects

male portrait, sideburns, man, 19th century costume, bow tie, riband, Count

Materials & Techniques

paper (as artists material), pencil, pencil drawing

Artist

Alfred, Count d' Orsay (1801 - 1852)

Title

Count Adolphus von Kielmansegge

Date

30 May 1845

Medium

Pencil on paper

Dimensions

height: 27.50 cm, width: 20.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, February 1955

Inscription

lr: d'Orsay fecit / 30 Mai 1845 ; bc: AVKielmansegge

GAC number

3058