{"product_id":"pair-of-empire-pastel-portraits-1813-l-h-hessel-nuremberg-early-19th-century-art","title":"Pair of Empire Pastel Portraits, 1813 – L.H. Hessel, Nuremberg, Early 19th‑Century Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese two \u003cstrong\u003eEmpire‑period pastel portraits\u003c\/strong\u003e, one dated \u003cstrong\u003e1813\u003c\/strong\u003e and signed by \u003cstrong\u003eLeonhard Heinrich Hessel\u003c\/strong\u003e, are exceptional examples of early \u003cstrong\u003e19th‑century portrait art\u003c\/strong\u003e from \u003cstrong\u003eNuremberg\u003c\/strong\u003e. Hessel (1757 St. Petersburg – ca. 1830) was a \u003cstrong\u003eGerman‑Baltic painter and engraver\u003c\/strong\u003e, born into a family from \u003cstrong\u003eNarva\u003c\/strong\u003e (today Estonia) and active in Nuremberg from 1779 onward. He became well known for his \u003cstrong\u003eminiature portraits\u003c\/strong\u003e, his copper engravings, and for inventing the so‑called \u003cstrong\u003e“Hesselischer Treffer,”\u003c\/strong\u003e a device that allowed silhouettes to be taken in daylight. His portraits of Nuremberg citizens—including \u003cstrong\u003ePaul Wolfgang Merkel\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJohann Paul Sattler\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eCarl Felssecker\u003c\/strong\u003e—are represented today in major collections such as the \u003cstrong\u003eAlbertina (Vienna)\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eGermanisches Nationalmuseum (Nuremberg)\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the \u003cstrong\u003eSwedish Nationalmuseum (Stockholm)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe identities of the two women portrayed here remain unknown, yet their clothing, posture, and refined presentation suggest that they belonged to the \u003cstrong\u003ewealthy Nuremberg bourgeoisie - \u003c\/strong\u003every likely \u003cstrong\u003etwo sisters\u003c\/strong\u003e. Both portraits are executed in \u003cstrong\u003epastel on paper\u003c\/strong\u003e and preserved in their \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal early 19th‑century frames\u003c\/strong\u003e. On the reverse of one sheet, old \u003cstrong\u003eliturgical or devotional texts\u003c\/strong\u003e appear—an indication of the period’s common practice of reusing paper, which was an expensive commodity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe frames show \u003cstrong\u003eage‑appropriate wear\u003c\/strong\u003e, including old wormholes, while the portraits themselves are in \u003cstrong\u003eremarkably good condition\u003c\/strong\u003e considering their age. One portrait shows a small \u003cstrong\u003ewater stain\u003c\/strong\u003e near the chin, but the overall visual impact remains strong and harmonious. As a pair, these works form a \u003cstrong\u003eunique and historically significant ensemble\u003c\/strong\u003e, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic and social world of \u003cstrong\u003eEmpire‑era Nuremberg\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrame size:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 31 × 27 cm \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePortrait size (visible area):\u003c\/strong\u003e approx. 18 × 13 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTIQUE GOWN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58005783019907,"sku":null,"price":440.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/1897\/6899\/files\/04-antique-empire-painting-1813.jpg?v=1778242693","url":"https:\/\/antique-gown.com\/de\/products\/pair-of-empire-pastel-portraits-1813-l-h-hessel-nuremberg-early-19th-century-art","provider":"ANTIQUE GOWN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}