Friedrich I wordt voorgesteld door de hertog van Schomberg

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Friedrich I wordt voorgesteld door de hertog vanomberg** is a delicate etching by Daniel Nikolaus Chowiecki, a prolific German artist renowned for his intricate historical and genre scenes. Created in 1799, this small-scale work (176 × mm) captures a pivotal moment: the introduction of Frederick I—Elector of Brandenburg and later the first King in Prussia—to the Duke of Schom, a celebrated military leader. Chodowiecki, director of the Berlin Academy of Arts, excelled in such narrative prints, blending Rococo elegance with emerging Neoclassical precision to make history accessible. The scene reflects late 18th-century fascination with Prussian royalty and military heritage. Frederick I (r. 1701–1713) symbolized the rise of Brandenburg-Prussia, while Schomberg (1615–1690), a Huguenot general who served multiple European courts, embodied martial valor—famously fighting for William III at the Battle of the Boyne. Chodowiecki's etching likely draws from historical accounts, immortalizing courtly diplomacy in an era of Enlightenment revivalism. Etching allowed Chodowiecki's fine lines and expressive details to shine, producing affordable yet sophisticated prints for collectors—evidenced here by the Lugt 2228 mark, linking it to esteemed provenance. This intimate work invites visitors to ponder power's personal encounters, showcasing how 18th-century printmaking democratized art and history.

About the Artist

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki · 1726–1801

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki (1726–1801) was a German painter and printmaker of Polish-Huguenot descent who became the most celebrated graphic artist in 18th-century Germany. Born in Danzig (now Gdańsk), he created approximately 2,000 etchings that serve as an invaluable visual record of German bourgeois life during the Enlightenment. Largely self-taught, Chodowiecki moved to Berlin in 1743 and ach...