Frederica Carolina van Brandenburg (1735-91). Dochter van hertog Franz Josias van Saksen Coburg Saalfeld 1755 - 1799

This is a miniature portrait of Frederica Carolina van Brandenburg, daughter of Duke Franz Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, made by an anonymous artist. The painting’s composition, encased within an oval, presents a poised figure against a muted backdrop. The artist's meticulous brushstrokes render the textures of lace, fur, and velvet with remarkable fidelity, inviting a haptic experience through visual means. Note how the semiotic weight of the portrait is borne by its intricate details—each a signifier of status and identity. The subject’s elaborate attire isn’t merely decorative; it's a calculated display intended to communicate specific messages about rank and personal identity. The formality of the portrait thus becomes a stage upon which power and lineage are visually enacted. Consider how the material properties of this miniature function to enhance its meaning. Its small scale invites intimacy, yet the formality of the composition asserts distance. This duality encapsulates the complex interplay between public presentation and private identity, a tension that continues to inform our understanding of portraiture today.