Autographs - court painter and artist genius JOSEPH STIELER

Autographs - Court painter and artist genius JOSEPH STIELER (1781-1858), letter with original signature to King Ludwig I of Bavaria, dated Munich November 17, 1842. Joseph Stieler is the artist behind the famous portraits of Ludwig van Beethoven or Johann Wolfgang v. Goethe. He had been court painter to the Bavarian kings since 1820 and created the famous 'Gallery of Beauty' in Nymphenburg Palace for King Ludwig I between 1827 and 1850, with 38 portraits of Munich women of noble and middle-class origin. In 1843 he portrayed Caroline Princess of Oettingen-Wallerstein. The present letter including envelope, framed behind glass, was written by Joseph Stieler on behalf of Prince v. Oettingen-Wallerstein. He was Bavarian Minister of the Interior and was considered a renowned art collector. King Ludwig I even acquired a part from his collection and library. The wording of the letter is as follows: 'Your Royal Majesty, the Prince of Öttingen-Wallerstein entrust me to express his most humble thanks to Your Majesty for the approval of his request, which I have communicated to him, since I do not find that the harmony of the collection is disturbed by this arrangement. However, he explained to me that because of the long family mourning, he could not, without violating decency, agree that the painting should be begun in the month of the Prince's death, but from December 1, Your Majesty would only have to command on which day the first session should take place. In deepest respect. Your Royal Majesty, most humbly obedient servant Jos. Stieler, Munich, Nov. 17, 1842'. It is possible that the death mentioned is that of Prince Friedrich Kraft Heinrich zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein, the brother of the art collector and Bavarian Minister of the Interior, who died on Nov. 15, 1842. The envelope sealed underneath is addressed to 'Seiner Majestät Dem Könige Ludwig von Bayern' and numbered '52/67/1', but not franked or stamped. Dimensions of the frame approx. 60 x 31 cm. Signs of age and use