Who painted Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia?

Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia?

Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia

Portrait of Frederik Wilhelm of Prussia is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work is a mid‑18th‑century portrait of Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia, executed around 1750.

About this work

Overview

The work is a mid‑18th‑century portrait of Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia, executed around 1750. Rendered in oil on canvas, the image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition presents the prince in a formal pose, set against a landscape that includes a cloudy sky, water and distant ships.

Subject & Meaning

Frederick Wilhelm is depicted wearing a dark jacket trimmed with gold buttons, a white shirt, white breeches, and high black boots. He holds a sword in his right hand, a traditional symbol of military rank, while a table behind him bears a vase of flowers and a helmet, reinforcing his aristocratic and martial identity.

Technique & Style

The painter employs a balanced chiaroscuro, using the dark attire of the sitter against a luminous sky to create depth. Fine brushwork delineates the intricate details of the gold buttons and the reflective surface of the water, while the background landscape is rendered with looser, atmospheric strokes typical of late Baroque portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the portrait entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to the artist known only by the catalog number 37428_person reflects the limited documentation of the painter’s oeuvre, a common issue for many court portraitists of the period.