PRUSSIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1845, AFTER FRANZ KRÜGER (GERMAN, 1797-1857)

Details

PRUSSIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1845, AFTER FRANZ KRÜGER (GERMAN, 1797-1857)
Frederick William IV (1795-1861), King of Prussia 1840-1858, in aubergine coat with red piping, red collar and silver epaulettes, black stock, wearing the badge of the 1813 Iron Cross of Prussia, the Royal Prussian War Memorial medal for 1813/1815, the badge of the Imperial Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa, the Imperial Russian Commemorative medal of the 1812 war, the badge of the Imperial Russian Military Order of St George and the breast-star of the Royal Prussian Order of the Black Eagle; the lower terraces and south-facing garden façade of Sanssouci Palace and the historic mill of Sanssouci in the background
oil on panel
rectangular with arched top, 8.7/8 x 7.5/8 in. (224 x 193 mm.), rectangular gilt-wood frame
The reverse with the sitter's handwritten inscription: 'Ich gratulire Frau Excellenz / v d Marwitz / zu ihrem Geburtstage & bitte / beykommende Blumen und das Gesicht / wohlwollend mit alter Geneigtheit / aufzunehmen. Das Gesicht bitte ich / mir späther wiederumb retour, umb / an demselben das billige Haarscheeren / vornehmen lassen zu können. FW / Gegeben zu Cöln an der Spree / am 12 Martii 1845', which translates approximately as, 'I congratulate Her Excellency Mrs von der Marwitz on her birthday and ask her to accept the joint flowers and the face [portrait] with old sympathy. I would like to have the face back later in order get the cheap haircut done. FW In Cöln an der Spree [archaic name for a district of Berlin where the Royal City Palace, destroyed in 1950 and to be rebuilt, was located] on 12 March 1845.'

Provenance

Presented by the sitter to Charlotte von der Marwitz (1780-1848), second wife of the Prussian politician, General Friedrich August Ludwig von der Marwitz, on 12 March 1845.

Brought to you by

Emma Durkin

edurkin@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2609

Lot Essay

The sitter was a son of Frederick William III of Prussia (see the next lot) and Queen Luise (see lot 150). In 1823, he married Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria (1801-1873). He was succeeded by his brother William (see lots 208 and 293), who had acted as Regent since 1857, when Frederick had suffered from a stroke.

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