Johann Gottfried Schadow (German, 1764–1850)
Cast by Werner Foundry (German, 1794/95–1842)
Queen Louise of Prussia
INV-1867
Johann Gottfried Schadow (German, 1764–1850)
Cast by Werner Foundry (German, 1794/95–1842)Modeled 1799, cast 1819–21
Queen Louise of Prussia
Johann Gottfried Schadow (German, 1764–1850) Cast by Werner Foundry (German, 1794/95–1842) →18th Century19th centurynineteenth centurybust/headsculpture
Date
Modeled 1799, cast 1819–21
Medium
Bronze with black patina
Dimensions
57 × 36 × 24 cm (22 7/16 × 14 3/16 × 9 7/16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Harry and Maribel G. Blum, Richard T. Crane Memorial, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Varley endowments; European Decorative Arts Purchase Fund
Queen Louise, wife of King Frederick William III, was an enormously popular figure in Prussia. She was renowned for her patriotism, which she displayed, for example, by accompanying her husband to war in full military uniform. Napoleon himself nicknamed her “my beautiful enemy” for her resistance to French encroachment on Prussian territories. Here, Louise wears a classically inspired headdress. The coin around her neck commemorates her father, Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Johann Gottfried Schadow was one of the first German sculptors to adopt the Neoclassical style. He was close friends with celebrated Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, whose works are also in the collection of the Art Institute.
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