Portrait of Elena Cuza

This is one of the many portraits Carol Szathmary made for Mrs. Elena Cuza, as he was the official artist of the Ruling Prince of the Romanian Principalities, Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
Szathmary’s lithography depicts Elena Cuza standing, holding a book in her left hand, on a table, on which there is also a bouquet of flowers. The table is an extraordinary piece of furniture, due to its sumptuous decoration. Her crinoline dress is plentifully decorated with laces, bows and feathers and her jewelleries are rich in pearls, precious stones and metals. On her right, behind Elena Cuza, there is a chair with its backrest inlaid with the United Principalities’ coat of arms.