Maria Antonia Walpurga Symphorosa of Bavaria (1724-1780)

• Was a German princess, composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron of the arts.
• She was Electress of Saxony as the wife of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony.
• Following the latter's death in 1763, she became the Regent of Saxony for their son Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.
• Throughout her life she received an outstanding education, particularly in the arts; including that of painting and writing poetry, as well as music.
• She was the fourth of seven children of the Elector and his wife.
• In 1747 she became a member of the Accademia dell’Arcadia of Rome.
• With her marriage, she moved to Dresden.
• She had nine children with Friedrich Christian, seven of whom survived infancy.
• She left Dresden during the Seven Years' War and took refuge in Prague and Munich.
• She founded a textile factory in 1763 and a brewery in 1766.
• The displayed painting is a crop from: Pietro Rotari, Maria Antonia of Bavaria, spouse of Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony, 1755.
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