Objekt 47
Portrait medallion of Frederick William III (r. 1797-1840)
Description
Frederick William III (r. 1797-1840) came from the House of Hohenzollern and was King of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1797. At the beginning of his reign, he pursued a policy of neutrality that led to Prussia's isolation and dependence on France, but also to territorial gains. Under threat of danger, he ordered mobilization against Napoleon I (r. 1799-1814/15) in 1806, crushing the Prussian army at the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt. The Peace of Tilsit in 1807 finally sealed Prussia's defeat with great territorial losses.
Object description
Sculptor: Philipp Jakob Treu (1721-1825), Sign: "1814 Treu"
Basel, 1814
Bronze casting
Old stock
Inv. 1905.2003.