An agate cameo portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia - image-1

Lot 197 Dα

An agate cameo portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia

Auction 1182 - overview Cologne
15.07.2021, 11:00 - The Exceptional Bernard De Leye Collection
Estimate: 4.000 € - 6.000 €
Result: 5.624 € (incl. premium)
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An agate cameo portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia

Oval grey and white layered agate plaque with a finely carved bust of the emperor facing right, dressed in uniform and wearing his hair “en queue” with a laurel wreath upon it. Ligature monogram TM engraved in the sleeve neckline. 3.0 x 2.5 cm.
Circa 1790.

The depiction of the facial features and the braided hairstyle in this carefully executed portrait of the king in profile are probably based on an engraving by Theodoor Koning (Amsterdam 1788). The laurel wreath attribute is a recourse to the ancient representation of Roman emperors and documents the monarch's claim to power. The cool colour palette of the stone underlines the neo-classicist design of the miniature relief. The Dresden Museum of Decorative Arts houses a comparable, albeit less finely cut cameo with a portrait of Prince Henry of Prussia (inv. no. 27103), which also bears an unidentified monogram.

Literature

Cf. Scarisbrick et. al., The Art of Gem Engraving: From Alexander the Great to Napoleon III, Fukuoka 2008, cat. no. 083 - 085. Here four cameos with portraits of European rulers of the 16th - 19th century in laurel wreaths in the manner of Roman emperors.