When Carl Ulric Palm, the director of Bukowski, told Sinebrychoff that a portrait of Countess de la Gardie was coming up for auction, Sinebrychoff was at first suspicious. He looked up the painting in the Sander catalogue that lists three portraits of Hedvig Eva de la Gardie: one in Maltesholm, Skåne, one in Charlottenlund and one in Hamiltonhouse. Sinebrychoff believed that the portrait to be auctioned was from Hamiltonhouse and possibly a copy. When Palm informed him that the portrait was part of Count Arvid Posse's estate from Charlottenlund, Sinebrychoff asked Palm to buy the portrait for him at any price together with some other paintings and articles. As you can see, I am quite wild this time, he wrote. The art dealer was annoyed by Sinebrychoff's way of issuing orders to buy at an auction without setting any maximum price and consequently did not always follow the instructions literally. Sinebrychoff, on the other hand, suspected that Palm had made him pay excess prices for secondary paintings and believed that he favoured other collectors at his expense. When Palm asked for a maximum price for the Countess's portrait by telegram, Sinebrychoff sent an irritated reply: I'll pay anything for the portrait in order to get at least the crumbs you favour me with. Confused about your procedure . Sinebrychoff got the portrait for 3 010 crowns.
The portrait Sinebrychoff wanted so badly is an excellent piece of work painted by Carl Fredrik von Breda two years after his return from England. Breda does not present the honourable 49-year-old Countess in her official capacity as the senior Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Dowager, but in a more familiar manner as a private person. The Countess is wearing a classic shirtwaister - in fact a negligé worn around the house - and a shawl around her shoulders. Her hair is combed down in a simple and natural fashion. Hedvig Eva de la Gardie looks out at us in a kindly manner with a gentle touch of melancholy in her eyes. The sombre background with dark columns outlined against a dramatic evening sky acts as a counterbalance to the bright, sympathetic figure of the Countess, who is painted in broad strokes and clear colours.
Hedvig Eva de la Gardie was born into and married into the nobility that lived around the court. Her father, Baron Claes Rålamb, took care of his grandfather's library and held high offices. In 1765, at the age of 22, Hedvig Eva married Count Pontus de la Gardie, a 39-year-old colonel, later general of the cavalry, who was widowed and had a daughter from his previous marriage. Hedvig Eva had six children. Her first-born daughter and third son died young, but four talented sons lived on. General de la Gardie died in 1791 and the Countess was appointed Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Dowager Sophia Magdalena.
Carl Fredrik von Breda Maria de Ron, née von Breda Jean Martin de Ron Georg Frans Thieleman Countess Hedvig Eva de la Gardie, b. Rålamb
