Artwork
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia is an ink print by the Baroque artist Nicolas Delaunay. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1766, this print is an engraving by Nicolas Delaunay that depicts Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Rendered in black and white, the image shows the monarch’s face and shoulders within a circular frame, accompanied by a Latin inscription identifying him as "Frederickus Rex Pruss."
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Frederick with a composed, serious expression, his wavy hair pulled back from the forehead. The dignified pose and the formal inscription underscore his status as a ruler, while the restrained composition reflects eighteenth‑century conventions of royal portraiture, emphasizing authority and intellectual gravitas.
Technique & Style
Delaunay employed meticulous cross‑hatching to build tonal variation across the paper. Fine intersecting lines generate subtle shadows and texture, especially in the background’s crisscrossed pattern. The technique allows the artist to model the facial features and fabric without any use of color, producing a nuanced, monochrome rendering.
History & Provenance
The engraving was produced shortly after Frederick’s death in 1786, during a period when his image was widely disseminated across Europe. As a printed work, it could be reproduced and circulated among collectors and institutions, contributing to the visual legacy of the Prussian monarch.
Artist & collection
