Tallinn Trip – Kadriorg Art Museum (Self-Portrait by Friedrich Ludwig von Maydell)

Firstly, Google AI is on top form in describing artworks, simply uploading this image produced the result:

“Freidrich Ludwig von Maydell, the subject of the portrait, exudes an aura of quiet contemplation. His piercing blue eyes, framed by a cascade of silver hair, seem to hold a lifetime of stories and experiences. The gentle lines etched upon his face speak of wisdom and resilience, while the hint of a smile suggests a depth of kindness and compassion. He is adorned in a simple yet elegant attire, a dark suit and tie complementing his distinguished demeanour. The backdrop of the portrait is a blurred tapestry of warm colours, hinting at a life richly woven with diverse experiences and emotions.”

I couldn’t have put it any better myself. The information board at the gallery notes that:

“The portrait belonged to the collection of Freidrich Ludwig von Maydell’s grandson. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Eveline, donated the painting along with several other works and family archives to the Art Museum of Estonia on condition that if the works were not reclaimed within 35 years, or 10 years after her death, they would remain with the museum. In 1946, the museum gave the documents and family photographs accompanying the works, as well as many of Eveline von Maydell’s own works, to the National Archives”.

Maydell (1795-1846) joined the Russian army before realising that he was better at art than being a soldier (and the tumult of the Napoleonic Wars likely didn’t make for a peaceful period in the armed forces compared to the potential excitement of self-expression away from the front line), learning new artistic skills in Germany and Italy before returning to Estonia. He died in Tallinn in 1846 of cholera, part of numerous epidemics of the disease which were sweeping across Europe at that time.

Back to Eveline von Maydell (1890-1962), she was a silhouette artist and clearly feared the implications of the Second World War not just from a human perspective but also fearing for fragility of civilisation on a wider level. She was fortunate to be a US citizen, it meant that she was able to leave Estonia for safety in the United States before the Soviet occupation began in 1940. I mention all this as there’s something about the enduring power of the artworks of the Maydell family to survive the darkest of times which Estonia has faced.