Portrait of Pauline Princess von Metternich-Sandor, oil on canvas, 67 x 53 cm, oval, framed, (Rei)

Pauline Clementine Marie Walburga Princess von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein, born Countess Sandor von Szlavnicza (1836-1921) grand-daughter and daughter-in-law of state chancellor Klemens Wenzel Lothar von Metternich (1773-1859). She married in 1856 Richard Klemens Prince von Metternich, from 1856 envoy in Dresden and from 1859 to 1871 Austrian ambassador in Paris, where already as a young woman she played a leading role in society. She was especially well-known during her time in Paris where she was a leader of style, and influenced a whole generation of salonières. In 1871 the couple returned to Vienna. From then on she devoted herself entirely to cultural and society activities, from the promotion of Richard Wagner in Paris, through the organisation of the spring festival in the Prater, the flower carnival, promotion of the Vienna Voluntary Rescue Team to all sorts of events in concert halls and theatres. Such was her commitment to the most varied levels of society in the Vienna of Franz Josef. Her rivalry with Empress Elisabeth was almost legendary.

Literature: R. Lorenz: Metternich-Sándor Pauline Fürstin. In: Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). vol. 6. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 1975, p. 248

Provenance: Prince of Metternich-Sándor

The line of Metternich-Sándor originated in 1856 through the marriage of Countess Pauline Sándor of Slavnicza with Richard Klemens, Count of Metternich-Winneburg and Beilstein.

The first documented use of the name Metternich-Sándor was in 1897.