Son of the history painter Karl van Blaas, Julius (1845-1923) studied in Rome, Florence and at the Academy in Vienna, where he later became a professor. From the outset, he showed a predilection for depicting animals, especially horses, and also tried his hand at sporting themes that brought him fame and recognition throughout Europe.
His equestrian portraits of the imperial couple, as well as his fox-hunting scenes in the Hungarian estate of Gödollo, were particularly appreciated at the Viennese court.
Such successes may also have induced Alfredo and Carolina Coronini to commission von Blaas in 1882 to paint a portrait on horseback of their son Carlo, just 12 years old, depicted right in front of the entrance to the palace, of which the end of the double loggia and the bell of the chapel can be identified.
