In 1844, Princess Francisca mentions 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 only a year after her marriage, Princess Francisca was beginning a new chapter in her life in Paris, alongside her husband, the Prince of Joinville. Considered the most charismatic among 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 fondness for her.
In this handwritten letter from 1846, Francisca writes affectionately to her sister Januária, revealing aspects of daily life and family ties among members of royalty in exile. Notably, she also comments on portraits painted by the renowned German painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805–1873), celebrated for his elegant and idealized portrayals of European nobility, including Empress Eugénie of France and Queen Victoria of England. His refined style, with its emphasis on luxurious clothing and gentle 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, even though young and newly arrived in Europe, was already integrated into 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.
