Frederick II the Great (1713-86), king of Prussia

The miniature portrait of Frederick II the Great was created in 1750 on a copper support using oil paint. The work is attributed to an anonymous artist and is believed to have been made in Germany. It depicts the King of Prussia and measures 8.4 cm in height by 7 cm in width.

The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which previously operated as the Nederlandsch Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst.

The miniature is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where it is catalogued as part of the holdings of the Nederlandsch Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst. Painted on copper in 1750, the work is recorded in the museum's records as depicting Frederick II of Prussia.

No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Frederick II the Great (1713-86), king of Prussia, was a prominent historical figure who influenced European politics and culture during the 18th century. As a monarch, he shaped Prussian governance and military strategy, contributing to the broader context of Enlightenment-era leadership. His reign intersected with artistic developments, including the production of small-scale paintings on copper, a medium favored for its reflective quality and suitability for intimate portraiture.

One such work, attributed to an anonymous artist, depicts the king in a miniature format measuring 8.4 cm in height by 7 cm in width. Created in Germany around 1750, this painting is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection in Amsterdam and exemplifies the genre of royal portraiture through its detailed rendering and symbolic composition.

Scholarly analysis of this artwork emphasizes its role within the visual culture of Frederick II's court, where imagery served to reinforce authority and legacy. The painting's classification as a miniature reflects contemporary artistic trends in Northern Europe, particularly the use of copper supports for portable, detailed works intended for private patronage. Its presence in a national museum collection underscores its historical significance as both an artistic artifact and a representation of Prussian identity during the 18th century.

The work is a copper portrait of Frederick II, King of Prussia (1713‑1886), rendered in profile and looking toward the viewer’s right. The figure is dressed in a dark blue coat with elaborate silver embroidery, a red collar, and a red sash over the left shoulder, his curly gray hair visible. The composition emphasizes the monarch’s dignified presence through formal attire and a restrained pose.