Ernestine Charlotte von Nassau-Siegen (1623 - 1668)

• She was a German princess of the House of Nassau-Schaumburg and a painter.
• She was born on 23 October 1623 as the daughter of John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen and Ernestine Yolande of Ligne.
• She was probably born in Brussels.
• Her siblings were: an unnamed sister (born and died 1620), Claire Marie, Lamberta Albertine and Johann Franz Desideratus.

• Ernestine married Moritz Heinrich (Maurice Henry), Prince of Nassau-Hadamar (1626–1679).

• Both Ernestine Charlotte and her mother Claire Marie had an affinity for painting, but it is not clear why Ernestine Charlotte received her training as a painter.

• She may have been influenced by Anthony van Dyck, or at least others in his circle.

• It seems we have had some contact with Gerard van Honthorst.

• Ernestine Charlotte painted various pictures of women who have remained vivid over the past few days.

• Although it is unlikely that they were a series, seemingly a gallery of beauties, they also painted a self-portrait.

• The women represented were often painted in a natural way, but some were also based on other portraits, because they never posed for Ernestine Charlotte.

• The majority of her paintings were added to the Lobkowicz collection in Prague due to the marriage of Claudia Franziska to Prince Ferdinand August von Lobkowitz.

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