(Vienna 1796–1842)
Best Friends, Portrait of Franziska Auersperg (13. 9. 1831–31. 12. 1847) with her dogs, signed, dated, A. Clarot p (1)839, oil on panel, 42 x 36 cm, framed,(W)

The coat of arms shown in the present work is that of the Auersperg family, and the comital line. The sitter is Franziska Countess of Auersperg (born 13.9.1831 - died 31.12.1847). The coat of arms indicates that is is not a member of the princely line and the child is around 7 or 8 years of age (the painting was executed in 1839). Therefore, the sitter can only be the daughter of Franz Xaver Adolf and Maria Theresia (neé Freiin von Scheibler). She was of the comital line and died at the tender age of 16.The latter was portrayed in 1843 by Kriehuber (Wurzbach No. 63), in which a clear physiognomic similarity is seen.

Literature:
Tyroff, Johann A. .: Wappenbuch der Österreichischen Monarchie von 1831, Vol. I., Nr. 79 Vienna 1931
Witting, Dr. Johann Baptist: „Steiermärkischer Adel“, in Siebmacher‘s großers Wappenbuch Vol. 4, 7th Dept., Nuremberg 1919-1921
Preinfak, Micha: Auersperg: Geschichte einer europäischen Familie, Graz - Stuttgart 2006
Wurzbach, Wolfgang von: Catalogue of the Portrait-Lithographs by Josef Kriehuber. – 2nd Edition. Vienna 1958

The coat of arms shown in the present work is that of the Auersperg family, and the comital line. The sitter is Franziska Countess of Auersperg (born 13.9.1831 - died 31.12.1847). The coat of arms indicates that is is not a member of the baronial line and