Artwork
Portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia in a medallion with allusions to her marriage to Prince William V on 4 October 1767 in Berlin (Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina)
Portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia in a medallion with allusions to her marriage to Prince William V on 4 October 1767 in Berlin (Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Frédéric Reclam. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
These stylistic choices reflect the neoclassical emphasis on clarity and symbolic narrative within Prussian court portraiture.
The portrait was executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a standard support for 18th-century Dutch portraiture that provided a smooth, durable surface suitable for fine detail. Reclam’s handling of light emphasizes the sitter’s silk mantilla and the delicate sheen of the medallion, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that draws attention to her facial expression and the symbolic elements of the composition. The work’s formal balance is achieved through the circular format of the medallion, which frames the figure and integrates allegorical motifs referencing her marriage to Prince William V on 4 October 1767. These stylistic choices reflect the neoclassical emphasis on clarity and symbolic narrative within Prussian court portraiture.
History & Provenance
The painting was commissioned to mark Wilhelmina of Prussia's marriage to Prince William V on 4 October 1767 in Berlin. It was created by Frédéric Reclam in 1767 as an oil on panel portrait. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. The work is catalogued under that institution's inventory, with the medium given as oil paint on panel and dimensions of 50 cm in height by 39 cm in width.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1767, this oil painting by Frédéric Reclam depicts Wilhelmina of Prussia within a circular frame that resembles a medallion. The composition places the sitter’s bust at the center, surrounded by a host of cherubic figures and angels bearing floral arrangements. A dark backdrop heightens the contrast with the luminous colors of the garments and decorative elements, giving the work a refined, courtly atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait commemorates Wilhelmina’s marriage to Prince William V, which took place on 4 October 1767. By enclosing her likeness in a medallion and surrounding her with celestial attendants, the artist alludes to both the sanctity of the union and the noble status of the bride. The inclusion of a crown and floral motifs reinforces themes of fertility, virtue, and dynastic continuity.
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Artist & collection
Erzherzogin Maria Anna (1718-1744), Tochter von Karl VI. im Alter von neun Jahren, Kniestück
Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Blois, Duchess of Orleans
Louise-Elisabeth de Bourbon-Condé, Princess of Conti (1699-1775)
Portrait of Princess Charlotte Amalie, Daughter of Frederick IV, King of Denmark
The Infanta María Antonia Fernanda, Daughter of Philip V
Portrait of Madame du Barry (1743-1793)
Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)
Portrait of Princess Charlotte Amalie, Daughter of Frederick IV, King of Denmark
Anna Constanze Gräfin von Cosel (1680-1765)
I.K.H. Erzherzogin Maria Iosepha
Lady Mary Josephine Drummond, Countess of Castelblanco- Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751-1820), Wife of Prince Willem V