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Artwork

Friedrich Christian (1722-63), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland

Gottfried Boy , 1751

Friedrich Christian (1722-63), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Gottfried Boy. It dates from 1751 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The portrait shows Friedrich Christian I, Elector of Saxony, rendered in oil on canvas by Gottfried Boy in 1751.

The portrait shows Friedrich Christian I, Elector of Saxony, rendered in oil on canvas by Gottfried Boy in 1751. He wears the regalia of his dual offices, holding a scepter that signifies his electoral authority while his posture conveys the dignity of his kingship over Poland. The composition emphasizes his political power through the inclusion of the Saxon coat of arms and the Polish crown, linking his personal identity to the dynastic union of Saxony and Poland.

The work thus functions as a visual assertion of his dual sovereignty and the political context of the era.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1751 by Gottfried Boy, this portrait of Friedrich Christian utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 144 cm in height and 113 cm in width. Classified as a formal portrait, the piece employs traditional materials characteristic of mid-18th-century European painting practices.

The composition focuses on the depiction of the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, adhering to the genre conventions of royal portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Friedrich Christian I, Elector of Saxony, painted by Gottfried Boy in 1751, entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains displayed. The work was created as a commissioned portrait of the elector and king, reflecting the sitter's status in the mid-18th century. Its dimensions measure 144 cm in height by 113 cm in width, and it is executed in oil paint on canvas.

The portrait of Friedrich Christian, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, painted by Gottfried Boy in 1751, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 144 cm in height by 113 cm in width. While the painting is confirmed to be part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings, the provided sources do not specify an inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, no exhibition history or past display records are documented in the available references.

Overview

Gottfried Boy’s 1751 oil portrait presents Friedrich Christian I, who held the titles of Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures the stature of the sitter through a composed, half‑length pose that draws the eye to his elaborate dress and dignified bearing.

Context

Friedrich Christian’s reign (1745‑1763) linked Saxony and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a duality reflected in the portrait’s regal yet martial tone. Boy, a German court painter, frequently depicted high‑ranking officials, and this work aligns with contemporary efforts to convey sovereign legitimacy through sumptuous costume and controlled compositional settings.