Field Marshall Schwerin
Statuette
1759 (made)
1759 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The design of the plinth of this terracotta model provides the clue leading to the identification of the statuette, as it is identical to that of the plinth of a series of statues of Frederick the Great's Generals which were ordered during the Seven Years' War for Berlin and erected in the Wilhelmplatz. In 1759 the statues of Schwerin and Winterfeldt were commissioned from François-Gaspard Adam. However, he left Berlin before executing the statues. They were carved instead respectively by Sigisbert-François Michel (nephew of Adam) and the Brothers Räntz. Further statues were commissioned from other sculptors.
Francois-Gaspard Adam (1710-61), who made this terracotta model, was one of three sculptor brothers. Their nephew, the son of their sister, was the much better-known sculptor Clodion. F-G Adam's best works are probably his garden statues for Frederick the Great of Prussia at Sanssouci, Potsdam.
In features, A.91-1970 resembles the statue of the Prussian field marshall Schwerin more closely than others, and it is thought that it represents F-G Adam's original proposal. However, the statue as executed by Sigisbert Michel is markedly different and full of agitated movement. It is inscribed: 'Commencé par ADAM et fini par SIGISBERG 1769'. The statues were removed from the Wilhelmplatz in the mid 19th century and are now in the Bode Museum in (East) Berlin.
Francois-Gaspard Adam (1710-61), who made this terracotta model, was one of three sculptor brothers. Their nephew, the son of their sister, was the much better-known sculptor Clodion. F-G Adam's best works are probably his garden statues for Frederick the Great of Prussia at Sanssouci, Potsdam.
In features, A.91-1970 resembles the statue of the Prussian field marshall Schwerin more closely than others, and it is thought that it represents F-G Adam's original proposal. However, the statue as executed by Sigisbert Michel is markedly different and full of agitated movement. It is inscribed: 'Commencé par ADAM et fini par SIGISBERG 1769'. The statues were removed from the Wilhelmplatz in the mid 19th century and are now in the Bode Museum in (East) Berlin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Field Marshall Schwerin |
| Materials and techniques | terracotta |
| Brief description | Model of Graf von Schwerin statue, Terracotta, French, 18th cent, F G Adam, 1759 |
| Physical description | Terracotta standing figure of a man in armour, looking to his left, his left arm raised, his index finger pointing. His weight is on his left foot and his right is advanced. He wears a periwig tied at the back with a bow. At his waist on his right hangs the star of an order, and on his left a sword. The star seems to have been suspended from a sash, now missing, which passed diagonally across the breast to the brooch of the left shoulder. A cloak attached to the left shoulder hangs down behind the figure over a tree-trunk and a plumed helmet lying on the ground. The figure stands on an elaborate rectangular plinth, with volutes at the corners and a lion-skin in front, the forepaws supported by rings at the angles of the plinth. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | The design of the plinth provides the clue leading to the identification of the statuette, as it is identical to that of the plinth of a series of statues of Frederick the Great's Generals which were ordered during the Seven Years' War for Berlin and erected in the Wilhelmplatz. In 1759 the statues of Schwerin and Winterfeldt were commissioned from François-Gaspard Adam. However, he left Berlin before executing the statues. They were carved instead respectively by Sigisbert-François Michel (nephew of Adam) and the Brothers Räntz. Further statues were commissioned from other sculptors. In features, A.91-1970 resembles the statue of the Prussian field marshall Schwerin more closely than others, and it is thought that it represents F-G Adam's original proposal. However, the statue as executed by Sigisbert Michel is markedly different and full of agitated movement. It is inscribed: 'Commencé par ADAM et fini par SIGISBERG 1769'. The statues were removed from the Wilhelmplatz in the mid 19th century and are now in the Bode Museum in (East) Berlin. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The design of the plinth of this terracotta model provides the clue leading to the identification of the statuette, as it is identical to that of the plinth of a series of statues of Frederick the Great's Generals which were ordered during the Seven Years' War for Berlin and erected in the Wilhelmplatz. In 1759 the statues of Schwerin and Winterfeldt were commissioned from François-Gaspard Adam. However, he left Berlin before executing the statues. They were carved instead respectively by Sigisbert-François Michel (nephew of Adam) and the Brothers Räntz. Further statues were commissioned from other sculptors. Francois-Gaspard Adam (1710-61), who made this terracotta model, was one of three sculptor brothers. Their nephew, the son of their sister, was the much better-known sculptor Clodion. F-G Adam's best works are probably his garden statues for Frederick the Great of Prussia at Sanssouci, Potsdam. In features, A.91-1970 resembles the statue of the Prussian field marshall Schwerin more closely than others, and it is thought that it represents F-G Adam's original proposal. However, the statue as executed by Sigisbert Michel is markedly different and full of agitated movement. It is inscribed: 'Commencé par ADAM et fini par SIGISBERG 1769'. The statues were removed from the Wilhelmplatz in the mid 19th century and are now in the Bode Museum in (East) Berlin. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.91-1970 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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