Georg Friedrich Reichmann (1798-1853) served in the Prussian army against the French, in the campaign of 1813-1815. He subsequently enrolled as a student at the Academy in Kassel. In 1821, he went to Munich, where his painting of Oedipus and Antigone was the subject of considerable attention. The Royal Collection has three of the portraits for which he is best-known, including this portrait of Princess Augusta, and another of her sister Mary (RCIN 407140).

Princess Augusta Caroline (1822-1916) was Queen Victoria’s cousin, the eldest daughter of Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of George III, and Princess Augusta, daughter of Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel. In 1843 she married Frederick William, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who succeeded his father in 1860. They had one surviving son who became Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The Princess appears here as a child, almost half length, wearing a white dress with pink ribbons at the shoulder, her dark hair in ringlets; in her hands she holds a rabbit in a basket; with hollyhocks at her sides, trees behind on the right, and an undulating landscape in the distance.

Signed and dated, lower right: Reichmann / 18[32?]

A lithograph after this painting was produced by John Giere (RCIN 604976).