Lot 89 Dα

In this pair of paintings, Frederick the Great and his nephew and successor Frederick William II are depicted in half-length in a painted oval frame. The representative portraits show Frederick in his blue uniform with the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, a book and the crown as attributes. His nephew also wears the star and insignia of the Order of the Black Eagle as well as the red, ermine-lined cloak, a corner of which can be seen at the bottom right.

The traditional attribution of these works to the painter Frédéric Reclam cannot be proven, but is certainly possible. Reclam was a pupil of the court painter Antoine Pesne. After spending time in Paris and Rome, he finally settled in Berlin in 1762, where he painted several portraits of members of the court. He worked for Prince Henry, the king's brother, at Rheinsberg Palace, as well as for Prince Ferdinand. Together with Daniel Chodowiecki, Reclam became a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts in 1764.