Frederick II
Medium
engraving over etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 21.3 x 13.2 cm (8 3/8 x 5 3/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1987.70.4
Art Historical Context
Behold the regal portrait of *Frederick II*, the enlightened King of Prussia, captured in this exquisite 1803 print by engraver Augustin de Saintubin after an original by Barthélemy. Frederick the Great (1712–1786), a towering figure of the Enlightenment, was renowned for his military genius, patronage of the arts, and philosophical writings. This image, produced over two decades after his death, reflects the enduring fascination with his legacy during the Napoleonic era, when European monarchs and revolutionaries alike drew inspiration from his reforms and cultural achievements. Crafted as a...