The stencil on the reverse of the canvas, 'EAFC' refers to the collection of Ernst Augustus I, King of Hanover and Duke of Cumberland and Brunswick-Lüneburg (1771-1851).

On 26 May 1843, Ernest Augustus founded the Ernst August-Fideikommiß to preserve his private collections of objects of art, which included the estates of his sister Auguste Sophie (1768-1840) and of his wife Friederike (1778-1841). The aim was the “Erhaltung des Glanzes Unserer Krone“. The stipulation of objects of art of this collection was to keep them together and for his heirs in the direct line. However, article 14 of this document mentioned that if there is not a successor on the Hanoverian throne in direct line, the heirs are permitted to dissolve the foundation.

The inventory of the collection was drawn up in Hanover in 1855 after the death of the King.

Familien Fideicommiss Sr. Majestät des hochsel. Königs Ernst August v. Hannover. 1843. 1846. Hannover 1855, General-Verzeichnis der zum Königlichen Ernst-August-Fideikommiss gehörigen Gegenstände. Neu aufgestellt und an Stelle des General-Verzeichnisses von 1855 und dessen Nachträge getreten. Gmunden im Oktober 1905
(Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv-Hauptstaatsarchiv Hannover, Dep. 103, XX, Nr. 122 – Lower Saxony State Archives)

The stencil – HH - Refers to an inventory at Herenhausen (former royal summer residence of the House of Hanover, Hanover) from the early 20th Century. Unfortunately this inventory has never been found.

We are grateful to Peter Flory for sharing his expertise and for the above information on the inventory mark and stencil.