Lot 144 Rα

Karl Alexander von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach (1818 - 1901) was the son of the Russian Princess Maria Pavlovna. His aptitude for learning, especially foreign languages, became evident very early on. He was interested in the humanities and completed his studies of law with a doctorate in 1841. He was a patron of Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, founded the Weimar music school and the Goethe archive, and laid the foundations for the Carl-Alexander library in Eisenach.
Wolf von Hoyer moved to Rome in 1837 after studying theology in Leipzig and there worked as a sculptor. Thieme/Becker mention that he received financial support of 200 thalers from the Prussian crown in December 1838, and was commissioned to complete a statue with a payment of 800 - 900 scudi in July 1842. The present work can almost certainly be brought into connection with this commission.