The son of a craftsman, he was trained at an early age in the workshop of a copper engraver and then attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Travels to Italy followed, where he studied the Venetian school of painting in particular. Soon after, he was drawn to Paris, the city where the first portraits of emperors and kings were created.
Enthused by Winterhalter's virtuosity, Napoleon III provided him with a studio in the Tuilleries.
The path to becoming a portraitist reached its peak with the paintings of Empress Sisi of Austria. In the meantime, he had risen to become the most famous German portrait painter, and Emperor Franz of Austria commissioned the painter to create a picture of the empress. It was to be a personal, intimate work, not intended for the eyes of the public. A little earlier, he had already produced a representative portrait of Sisi and her husband for the public.
Now a work was to be created for the eyes of the emperor only.
The portrait shows the beautiful, universally beloved empress with loose hair in delicate silky, loosely draped, robe. It should decorate the study of the emperor.
Word had spread everywhere about how flattering and lovely the painter was able to depict women in particular. The commissions reached such a high number that they were often too much for Winterhalter alone to handle. He therefore had his brother Hermann, who worked in his studio, make at least the copies that were customary for state portraits.
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 Empress of Austria wife of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria (1830-1916) - (MeisterDrucke-40226).jpg "Elizabeth of Bavaria (1837-98), Empress of Austria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria (1830-1916) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 Empress of Austria wife of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria (1830-1916) - (MeisterDrucke-40226).jpg)
 Surrounded by her Ladies-in-Waiting 1855 - (MeisterDrucke-100747).jpg "Empress Eugénie (1826-1920) Surrounded by her Ladies-in-Waiting, 1855 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 Surrounded by her Ladies-in-Waiting 1855 - (MeisterDrucke-100747).jpg)
 nee Varvara Dmitrievna Mergassov 1864 - (MeisterDrucke-72813).jpg "Portrait of Madame Rimsky-Korsakov (1833-78), née Varvara Dmitrievna Mergassov, 1864 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 nee Varvara Dmitrievna Mergassov 1864 - (MeisterDrucke-72813).jpg)
.jpg "Countess Olga Shuvalova by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (1830-1916) - (MeisterDrucke-50873).jpg "Elizabeth of Bavaria (1837-98), wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (1830-1916) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (1830-1916) - (MeisterDrucke-50873).jpg)
.jpg "Empress Eugénie by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Countess Orlov-Denisov by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Queen Victoria, c. 1843 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Princess Pauline von Metternich, 1860 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 1859 - (MeisterDrucke-204282).jpg "Portrait of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), 1859 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 1859 - (MeisterDrucke-204282).jpg)
 wearing the dress uniform of an Austrian Field Marshal with the Great Star of the Military Order of Maria Theresa 1864 - (MeisterDrucke-71829).jpg "Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria (1830-1916), wearing the dress uniform of an Austrian Field Marshal with the Great Star of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, 1864 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 wearing the dress uniform of an Austrian Field Marshal with the Great Star of the Military Order of Maria Theresa 1864 - (MeisterDrucke-71829).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Princess of Baden, 1856 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Marie-Louise, the first Queen of the Belgians by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Elisabeth, Empress of Austria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady with a Fan by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Princess Elizaveta Alexandrovna Tchernicheva by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_Painting_-_(MeisterDrucke-983958).jpg "Portrait of the Princess of Sayn Wittgenstein Sayn by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_Painting_-_(MeisterDrucke-983958).jpg)
_Painting_by_Franz_Xaver_W_-_(MeisterDrucke-988153).jpg "Portrait of the architect Karl Berckmuller by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_Painting_by_Franz_Xaver_W_-_(MeisterDrucke-988153).jpg)
.jpg "Eugénie of Montijo by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Francoise Caroline de Bourbon Bragance, Princess of Joinville by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Liza Przezdziecka by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_in_1855_surrounds_the_ladies_of_honor_of_the_Det_-_(MeisterDrucke-1029499).jpg "The Empress Eugenie in 1855 Surrounded by the Ladies of Honor by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_in_1855_surrounds_the_ladies_of_honor_of_the_Det_-_(MeisterDrucke-1029499).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Crown Princess Olga of Württemberg by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Young Italian at the Well, c.1833-34 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Young Woman in a Vineyard, 1851 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Princess Charlotte of Belgium by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "The Approaching Storm by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Marie-Christine of Bourbon-Sicily by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_(sissi)_Imperator_of_Austria_(1_-_(MeisterDrucke-1034919).jpg "Portrait of Elisabeth of Wittelsbach (1837-1898), Sissi, Empress of Austria (1854-1898) and Queen of Hungary (1867-1898) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_(sissi)_Imperator_of_Austria_(1_-_(MeisterDrucke-1034919).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Queen Victoria, 1859, detail of 192754 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Empress Eugénie 1826-1920 and her Ladies in Waiting, detail of Baronne de Malaret, née Nathalie de Ségur in a yellow dress, Marquise de las Marismas in a white dress, Marquise de La Tour Maubourg and the Marqu by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Maria Alexandrovna, 1857 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Carmen Aguado, Duchess of Montmorency, 1860 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Florinda, 1853 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 wife of Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808-73) - (MeisterDrucke-71091).jpg "Empress Eugénie of France (1826-1920), wife of Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808-73) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 wife of Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808-73) - (MeisterDrucke-71091).jpg)
 and her Ladies in Waiting detail of the Empress 1755 (detail of 37015) - (MeisterDrucke-54470).jpg "Empress Eugénie (1826-1920) and her Ladies in Waiting, detail of the Empress, 1755 (detail of 37015) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 and her Ladies in Waiting detail of the Empress 1755 (detail of 37015) - (MeisterDrucke-54470).jpg)
 Emperor of France - (MeisterDrucke-60400).jpg "Portrait of Napoleon III (1808-73), Emperor of France by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 Emperor of France - (MeisterDrucke-60400).jpg)
_Duke_of_Aumale_1846_-_(MeisterDrucke-65254).jpg "Portrait of Henri-Eugène-Philippe-Louis d")
_Duke_of_Aumale_1846_-_(MeisterDrucke-65254).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1710717).jpg "Portrait of Zofia Zamoyska, née Potocka (1851-1927) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1710717).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1711100).jpg "Portrait of Zofia Odescalchi, née Branicka (1821-1886) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1711100).jpg)
.jpg "Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Courtly Gala Dress with Diamond Stars by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 1842 - (MeisterDrucke-44868).jpg "Queen Victoria (1837-1901), 1842 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 1842 - (MeisterDrucke-44868).jpg)
.jpg "Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna of Russia by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Queen Isabella II of Spain and her daughter Isabella by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal as Crown Princess of Prussia by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Marie Caroline of Bourbon Salerno by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Maximilian I of Mexico by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Madame Barbe de Rimsky-Korsakov by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Queen Victoria in coronation robes by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Lady Rimsky-Korsakov by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady in Spanish Costume, Seated, Half-Length by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 1863 - (MeisterDrucke-80262).jpg "Portrait of Lady Middleton (1824-1901), 1863 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 1863 - (MeisterDrucke-80262).jpg)
_Pain_-_(MeisterDrucke-948085).jpg "Portrait of Marie Amelie de Bourbon, Queen of the French. 1842 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_Pain_-_(MeisterDrucke-948085).jpg)
.jpg "Queen Victoria, in her wedding dress by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Katarzyna Potocka née Branicka in oriental costume by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and children by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Queen Alexandra when Princess of Wales by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Empress Eugénie by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Pedro V, King of Portugal by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 1844 - (MeisterDrucke-83625).jpg "Portrait of Francisca Caroline de Braganca, 1844 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 1844 - (MeisterDrucke-83625).jpg)
 Duke of Nemours 1843 - (MeisterDrucke-91601).jpg "Louis-Charles-Philippe of Orleans, Duke of Nemours, 1843 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 Duke of Nemours 1843 - (MeisterDrucke-91601).jpg)
.jpg "Ludwig Graf von Langestein by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 Duc de Montpensier 1844 - (MeisterDrucke-82952).jpg "Antoine-Marie-Philippe-Louis d")
 Duc de Montpensier 1844 - (MeisterDrucke-82952).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-26007).jpg "Pierre-Marie Taillepied, Count of Bondy, Peer of France, Prefect of the Seine, General Intendant of the Civil List (1766-1847) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 - (MeisterDrucke-26007).jpg)
.jpg "Melanie de Bussiere, Countess Edmond de Pourtalès by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_in_1855_surrounded_the_ladies_of_honor_of_the_De_-_(MeisterDrucke-961405).jpg "The Impress Eugenie in 1855 surrounded by the ladies of honor by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_in_1855_surrounded_the_ladies_of_honor_of_the_De_-_(MeisterDrucke-961405).jpg)
_Louis_Philippe_I_in_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1554908).jpg "Louis Philippe I in the Uniform of the General Officer by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_Louis_Philippe_I_in_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1554908).jpg)
 1859 - (MeisterDrucke-232623).jpg "Portrait of Prince Albert (1819-61) 1859 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 1859 - (MeisterDrucke-232623).jpg)
.jpg "Empress Eugenie and Her Ladies in Waiting, detail of the Marquise of Montebello, 1855 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Francisca of Braganza by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Louise Sophie Melanie Renouard de Bussiere, Countess Edmond de Pourtales by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Christian Friedrich, Baron Stockmar, engraved by Thomas Fairland by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Florinda by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Lydia Schbelsky Baroness Staël von Holstein by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Madame Manuel, Countess of Gramedo. Painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1806-1873) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Henri d")
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.jpg "Portrait of Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of the French, 1853 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Maria Alexandrovna by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Princess Maria Carolina Augusta of Bourbon by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Louis I, King of Portugal by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Olga von Grunelius by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Charles-Jerome by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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 King of France - (MeisterDrucke-56770).jpg "Louis-Philippe I, King of France by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
 King of France - (MeisterDrucke-56770).jpg)
.jpg "Study of Italian Girl by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
.jpg)
.jpg "Florinda by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Sophia Bobrinskaya by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "The Duke Of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "The Empress Eugénie Surrounded by her Ladies in Waiting (detail) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Emperor Napoleon III of France 1808-1873 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Empress Eugénie à la Marie-Antoinette by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_-_Grand_Duchess_Maria_Nikolaevna_of_Russ_-_(MeisterDrucke-1028784).jpg "Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia (1819-1876), Duchess of Leuchtenberg by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_-_Grand_Duchess_Maria_Nikolaevna_of_Russ_-_(MeisterDrucke-1028784).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Emperor Napoleon III by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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.jpg "Portrait of Prince Albert in Garter Robes by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1089077).jpg "The Empress Eugenie by Franz Xaver Winterhalter")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1089077).jpg)
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