PORTRAITS BY JOHANN GEORG WEICKERT IN THE OSIJEK GALLERY OF FINE ARTS

The Gallery of Fine Arts in Osijek keeps in its collection of paintings a certain number of significant works from the 18th century, predominatly made by Austrian masters. Among these works is quite conspicuous a larger altar painting of the Holy Trinity by the late-baroque master J. M. Rottmayr. Further, there are representative portraits by Ephraim Hochhauser, and most particularly portraits by J . G. Weickert, which latter are the subject of the present article. Weickert was born in Vienna in 1745, died there in 1799. He was educated at the Vienna Academy of Painting, was a student of Martin van Meytens, director of the Academy, a man of broad culture and favourite of the Empress Maria Theresa. Thanks to the excellent quality of his works, Weickert soon made a name for himself and was much sought for as a painter. He would make portraits of numerous personalities of the high and highest societies, such as portraits of Maria Theresa, Joseph II, Queen Caroline of Naples, and others. The Osijek Gallery is in possession of three paintings by this master, the most conspicuous as to the quality and size being the portraits of Maria Eleonora Pejačević- Erdody (sized 222 x 149 cm). It is a normal-sized likeness of the latter, showing the moment when in a park she makes an offering to a small amorette by throwing incense into an um. She is clad in rich garments, although restrained in manner and deeply sunk in thought. Maria Eleonora had come from the rich old family Erdody de Monyorokerek, was the wife of Karlo Pejačević, who was 25 years her senior. She was his second partner in marriage (the f irst was the Spaniard Barbara Baroness of Sanches de Origosa y Cuenfuentes). This painting was executed still in the spirit of the Rococo, although certain elements make us sense the accents of the arriving classicism. The picture was painted in subdued transparent tones, most particularly the fluttering dress and the veil, and it testifies to the mastership of this painter, both in conducting the brush and selecting the colours, the latter exhibiting delicate pastel-like nuances