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.
Valgsprog:
Over våbenskjoldet:
1587
de handt des hogestenn
kan alles Enderenn
Under våbenskjoldet:
Henneke Reuentlow
meyne egene
handt
Kilde: Det Kongelige Bibliotek, GKS 3646 oktav (Dronning Sophies stambog, indførslerne dateret 1585-1586)
