The True Face of Anna Amalia

The Discovery of a Hidden Portrait

On 30 April 2026 the Klassik Stiftung Weimar will present a large-format family painting belonging to Duchess Anna Amalia in the drawing room of the Wittumspalais. Painted by the Braunschweig court painter Barbara Rosina de Gasc, the portrait’s enigmatic history is tied to the catastrophic castle fire and Anna Amalia’s transfer of power to her son Carl August. Interestingly, the painter’s invoice was dated 7 February 1774 – three months before the castle burned down. Soon thereafter, all traces of the painting were lost. It was found in the Gabelbach Hunting Lodge, where it had hung for over 250 years before it was returned to Weimar. For its new presentation in the permanent exhibition at the City Castle in 2026, conservators had planned to carry out restoration measures and repair possible fire damage. Material testing found no evidence of fire damage but rather revealed that the entire original portrait of the Duchess had been painted over. This layer was removed as part of the restoration measures. For the first time since it was created, the original painting will be presented in the Wittumspalais, accompanied by a media installation detailing the fascinating story of its restoration.