Peter Ströhling, Duke Karl Of Mecklenburg-strelitz

PETER EDUARD STRÖHLING (STROELY)
PORTRAIT OF THE DUKE KARL OF MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ, 1814-1815

PETER EDUARD STRÖHLING (STROELY)
Dusseldorf 1766 – after 1828 London

Watercolour and gouache, metal frame
8 x 6 cm / 3.1 x 2.4 in

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Sanremo

ABOUT THE ARTIST
The late 18th and early 19th centuries were the Golden Age of miniature portraiture, marked by the rise of major art schools in France, England, Russia, and Switzerland. Each had distinct and recognizable features. However, some artists, like Peter Edward Stroehling, transcended stylistic classifications, blending multiple influences.
Born in Düsseldorf in 1766, Stroehling likely received his early training from his father, Johann Burhard Stroehling, or at a local art school. After working in several German cities, he moved to Naples in 1792, where his international reputation began to grow. The city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere allowed him to attract patrons from England, Russia, and Austria. By 1795, he was in Vienna working for the imperial family, and by 1797, he had moved to St. Petersburg, where his talent flourished. Stroehling mastered the ability to capture his subjects' character with remarkable subtlety.
After leaving Russia in 1802, Stroehling briefly stayed in Berlin before settling in London in 1803, where he remained until at least 1828.

IDENTIFICATION
Identifying sitters in miniature portraits can be challenging, requiring not only visual comparisons but also contextual connections between the artist and the model.
This was the case with the portrait of Duke Karl of Mecklenburg. The miniature came from a family collection that included two other Stroehling works, one possibly depicting Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The sitter’s hairstyle, attire, and mustache style suggested early 1810s fashion, aligning with Stroehling's time in England.
An important clue came from an engraving by Giovanni Vendramini, published in 1814 in London. It featured an inscription:
"Drawn by P.E. Stroehling, Historical Painter to HRH the Prince Regent & Engraved by J. Vendramini."
The engraving identified the sitter as:
"His Serene Highness Charles, The Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz," known for his bravery in the Napoleonic Wars.
Comparing the miniature with this engraving confirmed the sitter’s identity as Duke Karl, brother of Duchess Charlotte Georgine.

THE DEPICTED SUBJECT AND HIS ICONOGRAPHY
Duke Karl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (full name: Karl Friedrich August zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz) was a prominent Prussian military leader and politician. He played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars (1805–1815) and remained influential in Prussian politics thereafter.
As a member of the influential Mecklenburg-Strelitz dynasty, Karl leveraged his connections—his half-sister Louise was the wife of King Frederick William III of Prussia. Appointed chairman of the State Council, he contributed significantly to balancing liberal reforms with the reinforcement of absolutism. His pragmatic approach played a crucial role in Prussia’s rise as a dominant force in the unification of Germany.

Wladyslaw MAXIMOWICZ
Bratislava, 2021