Approximately 100 paintings belonging to the aristocratic Habsburg and Wittelsbach families are being auctioned in Munich by Neumeister Kunstauktionshaus.

The paintings give a rare, intimate insight into the private lives of the royal families of Austria and Bavaria. Several of the paintings such as Empress Elisabeth of Austria on Horse by Franz Adam were previously unknown. Most have never been offered at auction before.

Paintings such as Portrait of Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria by Hans Makart depicts the Archduchess as a toddler and offers a glimpse into the sheltered sphere of the royal court; Marie Valerie was said to be the Empress’s favorite child and the painting was commissioned by the Emperor for his wife.

Other works serve as poignant reminders to some of the great personal tragedies the Austrian royal family endured. An oil painting entitled Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria by Tadeusz Ajdukiewicz depicts the prince on a horse. The prince was said to have stood for the portrait only several days before his suicide at Mayerling Palace. He killed himself shortly after leaving his uniform at the artist’s studio for more detailed work.

The collection also includes works by Dietrich Monten, Josef Arpád von Koppay, Peter Jakob Horemans, Georges Desmarées and Peter von Hess.

The sale is scheduled to take place on September 24 at an evening auction in Munich. A selection of the works can be viewed from the 10th to the 13th of September at Neumeisters branch in Vienna.