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A rare and distinguished pair of late 18th-century pendant portraits (oil on canvas) depicting Friedrich-August Bollnow and his wife, Karoline Bollnow (née Hennickendorf). Dated 1794, these portraits offer a fascinating glimpse into the Prussian professional class of the Enlightenment era.
The Sitters
• Friedrich-August Bollnow: Identified on the reverse as a Bergwerks-Amtmann (Mining Official/Magistrate) in Rüdersdorf. Rüdersdorf was a critically important limestone mining center for the development of Berlin, making Friedrich-August a figure of significant local historical importance. He is depicted in a formal dark coat with a high-collared cravat and a small ribbon pinned to his lapel, likely denoting his official rank.
• Karoline Bollnow: The pendant portrait shows his wife, Karoline, in a quintessential late 18th-century bonnet with a ruffled "chiffonette" border and a silk ribbon tie. Her expression is remarkably warm and lifelike.
Condition & Construction
• Medium: Oil on Canvas.
• Dimensions: 13” x 16”
• Provenance: Fully inscribed in German on the reverse of the canvases.
• Condition: Both paintings show an attractive age-related patina with fine craquelure. There are minor surface scuffs and small areas of paint loss consistent with age (please see photos of the man's jacket).
• Frames: Housed in matching mid-century gold-leaf finish wooden frames that complement the classical style of the works.
