Count Eugen Reventlow (1798-1885) and Count Theodor Reventlow (1801-1873) were the children of Danish diplomat and noble Cay Friedrich Reventlow. Eugen was appointed Secretary to the Danish Legation in St. Petersburg in 1823. He remained there until his brother Theodor assumed the position in 1828. As Eleanor Middleton succumbed to illness in 1827, her diary entries likely refer to the elder Reventlow. The portrait in the Album however may be of either brother.
The bust-length portrait presents Count Reventlow facing partly left, eyes looking forward, against a background of grey clouds. The young man wears a blue-black coat with gold buttons, a beige waistcoat, and a white shirt with a black cravat.
Kirsteplade: "Her under / Hviler støvet af / CHARLOTTE AMALIE / Grevinde REVENTLOW / født Comtesse HOLSTEIN LÆDREBORG / hvis liv prydedes / med / Sand Gudsfrygt / Usminket Dyd / Varm Menneske Kierlighed / Urokkeligt Venskab / Med taarefuld Erindring / af en Yngre / Imod Naturens Sædvanlige Lov / Forud Hjem gangne Veninde / Satte Dette / Hendes Ungdoms / Første Ledsagerinde / MARIANE DUGUAY
Mariane Duguai de Bretonville (1715-1801) var i sin ungdom fransk gouvernante i flere fornemme familier, blandt andre familien Holstein-Ledreborg. Hun var datter af en fransk parykmager i København og havde efter en onkel arvet en stor formue på 130.000 Rdlr. Hun bekostede sarkofagen efter sin ungdoms veninde og elev, grevinde Charlotte Amalie Reventlow, f. Holstein. Carl Wendt var hendes og hendes onkels testament eksekutor
1543 - 1580 (36 år)