Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm III

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm III by Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger1797–1825) is a delicate stipple engraving measuring 231 × 165 mm, capturing the likeness of Prussia's King Frederick William III during his early reign. This intimate-scale portrait reflects the neoclassical interest in dignified ruler imagery, common in late 18th- and early 19th-century Europe amid the Napoleonic era's political upheavals. Stipple engraving, Bollinger's chosen medium, employs fine dots rather than lines to build subtle tones and textures, lending a soft, painterly quality ideal for reproducing detailed facial features and regal attire. Popular for reproductive prints, it allowed wider dissemination of royal portraits, blending technical precision with artistic elegance. On the verso, a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) stamps its provenance, hinting at esteemed ownership in art historical circles. This piece offers a window into monarchical representation and printmaking innovation, inviting visitors to appreciate how small engravings preserved power and personality for generations.