In 1844, Princess Francisca mentioned the renowned painter Winterhalter in a letter to her sister Januária.

• Handwritten letter from Princess Francisca to Princess Januária.
• One page.
• In Portuguese.
• 12.5 cm x 20 cm.
• Paris, October 1844.
• Excellent condition.
• Unique piece.

In 1844, at the age of twenty and having been married for only a year, Princess Francisca was experiencing the beginning of a new phase in her life in Paris, alongside her husband, the Prince of Joinville. Considered the most charismatic of her sisters, she became the first Brazilian princess to officially represent the country abroad. Her presence captivated the French court, where she was well received — especially by the Queen of France, who showed particular sympathy for her.

In this handwritten letter from 1846, Francisca writes affectionately to her sister Januária and reveals aspects of the daily life and family ties between royals in exile. Notably, she also comments on portraits by the renowned German painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805–1873), famous for his elegant and idealized portrayals of members of the European nobility, including Empress Eugénie of France and Queen Victoria of England. His refined style, with its emphasis on luxurious clothing and soft expressions, made him the official portraitist of the imperial courts.

The fact that the letter mentions the renowned painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter is interesting because it shows that Princess Francisca, despite being young and having recently arrived in Europe, was already part of the most prestigious artistic and aristocratic circles of the time. It is also proof of the cultural and diplomatic prestige of the Brazilian imperial family abroad.