Erzherzog Karl von Österreich - Signierte Kabinettfotografie - 1906

A rare early portrait photograph of the later Emperor Karl I of Austria, taken as a young Archduke in the uniform of a Prussian cuirassier officer and personally signed. The portrait was created only a few years before his accession to the throne and belongs to the early, sought-after likenesses of the last reigning Habsburg Emperor.

Karl of Austria (1887–1922), who later became Emperor Karl I of Austria and apostolic King of Hungary. Original cabinet photograph from the k.u.k. Hof-Ateliers Carl Pietzner, Teplitz, mounted on cardboard, personally signed “Erzherzog Karl.” Back with a contemporaneous collector’s note “Berlin – Kürassier – May 1906.” Cardboard size approx. 32 x 22 cm, image size 20 x 10 cm.
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The portrait shows the eighteen-year-old Archduke Karl in the uniform of a Prussian cuirassier officer. The reverse note dates the portrait to a stay in Berlin in May 1906 and refers to the close military and dynastic ties of the European ruling houses on the eve of the First World War.

The portrait comes from the renowned Carl Pietzner studio, one of the most important court photographers of the k.u.k. monarchy. Pietzner produced numerous portraits of the House of Habsburg as well as other European royal houses and had been the k.u.k. court photographer since 1893.

Only ten years after the creation of the photograph did Karl ascend the throne as Karl I of Austria. After the end of World War I he became the last reigning Emperor of Austria; in 2004 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Hand-signed photographs from his time as Archduke are noticeably rarer than later imperial portraits and rank among the sought-after autographs of the House of Habsburg.
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Overall, a very well-preserved specimen with a clear, high-contrast original image and a strong, hand-signed autograph. The mountboard shows only light, age-typical signs of use and a few small spots; overall an attractive collectible with excellent presentation."} } }