From the Winterhalter portrait one can clearly see that Vicky's opinion of Anna was fairly on target. even allowing for the healthy dose of gloss that the painter bestows upon his sitters, Anna is depicted as a beautiful and fashionable woman. In another thread in which, much to Thomas' consternation I mistakenly attributed this painting to Pcss Anna of Hesse, I remarked upon the resemblance to Alice - does anyone else see it?
Anna in this portrait is extremely alluring; the pose leaning over the chair back is a tried and tested one that one sees frequently in paintings of this era and is always appealing. Her hands clasped together suggest a thoughtful, reflective woman, her serious gaze directed to the viewer. By contrast her attire is diaphanous, romantic and suggestive of a woman who takes the utmost care of her appearance. Don't be deceived by the clouds of tulle and the seemingly carelessly looped pearls at her throat and wrist. Her toilette is the 'dernier cri' in fashion, and her alleged fondness for decollete and ample skirts very much in evidence. Her hair is immaculately coiffed without looking too dressed; indeed the whole efect is one of studied negligence, a woman sure of her powers of attraction and with yet an active mind.
I am trying to obtain a colour copy of this portrait but I do know that her dress is in fact one of those fragile confections from the late 1850's, early 1860's that do not survive in costume collections. It would appear to be composed of white silk tulle over a pink foundation, either silk taffeta or satin duchesse; the fur trimmed pelisse or mantle is I think blue and the careless way in which such an expensive article of clothing is draped over the chair is entirely in keeping with the aristocratic atmosphere 'de luxe' that the painter is at pains to convey.
This such a beguiling image of a princess; who would not be happy to be thus depicted? What prince, on being shown this portrait, could fail to be enchanted?
