Oil on canvas, not relined
Berlin, 1777
Johann Heinrich Christian Franke (1738-1792) – German portraitist
Verso inscribed and dated ‘J.H.C. Francke / 1777’
Gilt stucco frame
Dimensions: 76 x 61 cm
Provenance: family-owned for over 200 years, Southern Germany; an ancestor of the family was a personal physician at the court of Frederick the Great, where he may have acquired the paintings
Oval rococo portrait of a court lady in a powdered wig and pink beaded dress; the auction record for a painting by the Prussian court painter is currently set at €42,000

The present painting by Johann Heinrich Christian Franke depicts the portrait of a beautiful woman wearing a magnificent dress and elaborate coiffure of the time. The sitter is presumably a lady of the court of Frederick II. Franke worked as a painter at the Prussian court and created numerous portraits of Frederick the Great. His works were well received with the Berlin audience – for Franke always able to capture the character of the sitter in his portraits – and he had numerous clients including court officials and members of the royal family. In the present work the delicate flesh tones and textures of the noble materials are skillfully rendered in the finest manner.



The canvas is inscribed and dated on the verso ‘J.H.C. Francke / 1777’. The stretcher and canvas are inscribed ‘Eigentum C. U Correns’. On the front the stretcher pushes slightly through the canvas. There is craquelure as well as partially scratches and color losses, primarily to the background. There are smaller retouchings to the face and partially to the background. The frame shows chips and restoration. The framed work measures 98 x 82 cm, the stretcher frame measures 76 x 61 cm.



Johann Heinrich Christian Franke (1738-1792)

Franke was a pupil of the German portrait painter Anna Rosina Liszewska (Mme de Gasc), who was herself a student of the Prussian court painter Antoine Pesne, translating her teacher’s French style of painting into German. From 1786 onwards Franke was a member of the Berlin Academy where he exhibited his work. Upon admission he showed an unusual motif, a self-portrait depicting the artist sneezing. Franke is primarily known for his numerous portraits of Frederick II. Among the most famous portraits is a presentation of Frederick removing his hat in greeting. The motif was often copied and widely distributed via etchings, with Franke himself creating various versions. A version of the painting is located in Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin. (tfa)

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.