Lot 447: Attributed to Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff (Kuckädel in Crossen an der Oder 1699-1753 Berlin)

Attributed to Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff (Kuckädel in Crossen an der Oder 1699-1753 Berlin)
Portrait of Prince Royal Frederik II (Berlin 1712-1786 Potsdam), half-length in profile, wearing armour and an ermine-lined cloak
oil on canvas
81 x 61.5 cm.
with various inventory numbers on the stretcher; 'BI-368' in red, 'G.K.I. nr. 50455' and on the reverse of the canvas '59'.
with a label saying that this painting hung in the 'Rotes Königszimmer'.

C. Juranek, Schloss Wernigerode, 1999.
Stiftung Schloesser, Burgen und Gaerten des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt, Eigentum des Volkes, Halle, 1999, p. 70, no. 91.

Prince Royal Frederik II, by whom gifted in 1737, to Count Christian Ernst zu Stolberg- Wernigerode and by descent to the present owner.

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Officer, architect and painter Georg Wenzeslaus Baron von Knobelsdorff was commisioned by Frederick II of Prussia - later Frederick the Great - for several architectural projects such as the Temple garden at Neuruppin (Amalthea Garten), the Frederick palace at Sanssouci at Potsdam and the design of the terraces on the Wine Hill. His most important teacher in painting was his friend Antoine Pesne, the leading painter in Prussia at the time.