Signed and dated centre right: Darbes p. 1796 Darbes was the son of the operetta composer and playwright Francesco d Arbes of Hamburg, who moved to Copenhagen around 1748 and became an art dealer. He enjoyed academic training in Copenhagen as a painter and draftsman. After extensive sojourns through Europe, he was active at the Russian court in St. Petersburg and in Courland as of 1773, before settling in Berlin in 1875, where he was also active at the Prussian court. Darbes became a professor and member of the Prussian Academy of Arts in 1786 and was regularly represented at exhibitions there. His portraits found their way into aristocratic residences and art collections throughout Europe.Chalk pastel on paper