Emil Hannover, A Catalogue Raisonné of C. W. Eckersberg's Works no. 258. The inventory no. 257 refers to Eckersberg's diary April 26, 1820 (in Danish): “Handed mrs and miss Neergaard's portraits, sent bill ... 55 RBdr. Each”.

Anna was the oldest child in a family of four, and the only daughter. Her father was landowner Johan Andreas Bruun de Neergaard (1770–1836) to Svendstrup at Roskilde. His younger brother was Tønnes Christian Bruun de Neergaard (1776–1824), landowner to Skjoldnæsholm. Tønnes was known as a man of pleasure, who traveled a lot and was an art lover. He was the patron of several young artists. Tønnes also had a home in Paris, where a large part of his art collection was installed.

In 1810 Eckersberg was a young promising artist, who was in constantly short of money before his real breakthrough, and Tønnes helped him financially during his stay in Paris. Before leaving for Paris Eckersberg visited Skjoldnæsholm. Here he may have met Tønnes' pretty 10-year-old niece Anna for the first time.

19 years old Anna married the 29-year-old Christian Ludwig von Stemann (1791–1857) later chamberlain and prefect. Within 10 years four children were born, the youngest Catharine Elisabeth (Betzy) von Stemann was barely one and a half years old when her mother died.

The portrait here was painted shortly after Anna got married. 19 years old Betzy von Stemann married in 1849 Eugenius Sophus Ernst Heltzen, who was the ancestor of the Danish branch of the Heltzen family.

Provenance: In the family Heltzen until today.