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Artworks: 'The Crowned Heads'

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The group of portraits known at New Court as 'The Crowned Heads'  is a collection of early nineteenth-century portraits of Rothschild clients.

These heads of state represented five of the countries for which the Rothschild brothers provided government loans in the two decades after the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). The collection includes two other ‘Crowned Heads’ of significance, William IX, the Elector of Hesse, and Andrew Jackson, President of the United States. A further portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles 1 is included in the collection. A 1917 inventory indicates that several of the portraits were hung in the corridor off the main entrance hall of the mansion at Nathan Mayer Rothschild’s estate at Gunnersbury Park, West London.  See Unmasking King John of Portugal by Fiona McGarel-Groves, RAL Review of the Year 2013-2014 for further information about this collection.

Note: there is no general public access to works on display.

The 'Crowned Heads', a collection of portraits of clients of Nathan Mayer Rothschild, c.1820-1886

000/26851-9, 9 items

'The Crowned Heads': a collection of early nineteenth-century portraits of Rothschild clients, known at New Court as 'The Crowned Heads'. These works are displayed at New Court. 

  • William IX Landgrave Of Hesse Cassel by Circle of Johannes Heinrich Tischbein I (German, 1722-1789). Three-quarter length, standing, wearing a Field Marshal’s uniform, a military encampment beyond. Oil on canvas. 142 x 110 cms. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • Alexandra Feodorovna [née Princess Charlotte Of Prussia], by George Dawe (British, 1781–1829). Wife Of Emperor Nicholas I. Half length, wearing a blue dress and an embroidered cloak, pink roses in her hair. Signed lower left George Dawes pinxit, St Petersburg and dated 1827. Oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 89 x 68 cms. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • Frederick William III, King Of Prussia by Heinrich Abel Seyffert (German, 1768 -1834). signed and dated lower left: h. a. seyffert pinx 1820. oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 82 x 64 cms. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • Francis I, Emperor Of Austria by Johann Baptiste Lampi II (Italian, 1775-1837). Half length, standing, wearing uniform and decorations, holding a sceptre, a crown on a cushion to the right. Oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 99 x 73 cms. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • Karl August, Prince Von Hardenberg [Note: incorrectly labelled as King John of Portugal for many years, the true identity of this portrait was identified in 2013]. B Heinrich Abel Seyffert (German, 1768–1834). Half length, standing, wearing a black coat and Prussian decorations. signed and dated lower left: h.a. seyffert pinx 1820. oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • Francis I, Emperor Of Austria, Studio of Johann Baptist Lampi II (Italian, 1775 – 1837). Oil on canvas, oval. Oval, 63.5 x 49 cms. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 
  • William I, King Of Holland by Karl Joseph Begas (German, 1794-1854). Half length, wearing a black coat and decorations. Signed centre right C Begas and dated 1826. Oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 67 x 56 cms. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park.
  • A Posthumous Portrait Of General, Later President Andrew Jackson [Note: for many years the identity of this portrait was lost and unknown]. After Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl. Half length, wearing uniform and holding a sword. Bears signature and date R.E.W. Earl/Pinxt 1886 lower right. Oil on canvas. In a contemporary gilt composition frame. 90 x 72.5 cms. Provenance: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park. 
  • Portrait Of Queen Henrietta Maria After Sir Anthony van Dyck, possibly late Victorian. Three-quarter length, standing, wearing a blue dress, a crown and table to her right. Oil on canvas. In a beaded giltwood frame. 122 x 95 cms [A copy of the portrait in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister de Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen, Dresden].