The Empress Eugenie Surrounded by her Ladies in Waiting

Franz Winterhalter was a famous Victorian, German speaking artist. He lived from 1805 – 1873. He was a very well known painter at the time and was actually Queen victorias’ favourite. He painted several portraits of her and her piers of high class; such as Prince Albert, Napoleon, King Louisse – Philip of france and many, many more. He was based in Paris for most of his career, but he painted most of Europe's royalty. His style was romantic, glossy, and superficial and his portraits have until recently generally been valued more as historical records than as works of art. However, a major exhibition of his work at the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Petit Palais, Paris, in 1987 brought him into the limelight again. He grew up as a young boy should, with an imaginaton as big as the solar system and no worries. He had always been talented at art, but sadly suffered an injury to his right hand when he was twenty one, which affected his work greatly. But by the time he was twenty five his work was better than ever. He was now writing, drawing and painting with his left hand better than he ever did with his right! He was a true perfectionist who took great pride in his work.