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Antoine Pesne
(1683-1757)
Antoine Pesne was born in Paris in 1683 into the family of the painter T. Pesne. Antoine received his first lessons in art from his father, later he studied in the Academy and with his gifted and resourceful uncle, Charles de la Fosse (1636-1716). In 1710-1711 Antoine made an extensive tour of Italy. He came to Berlin in 1711 to teach art to Prince Frederick and his more artistically talented younger brother. Soon Pesne became a court painter of the Prussian king and remained a highly esteemed and highly paid figure at Berlin¡¯s court for over 46 years. Pesne painted portraits, historical and religious subjects, executed monumental decorative works. In 1720, he became a member of the Paris Academy of Arts. In 1722-24, Pesne traveled to England. He was also the director of the Berlin Academy.
The artist died in 1757 and was buried in Berlin.
Notes
Frederick II the Great (1712-1786), Prussian King since 1740, was born in Berlin, the son of Frederick William I and Sophia-Dorothea, daughter of George I of Great Britain.
Pesne painted the portrait in 1739, the 27-year old prince Frederick II is wearing the Order of the Black Eagle, which was founded by his grandfather Frederick I in 1701. The painter foreshortened the prince¡¯s large nose. After Frederick became the king he never sat for the artists and made sure that no portrait of himself was ever in sight at any royal residence.
The second portrait of Frederick II by Pesne, fulfilled for Catherine II, dates to 1743. In the portrait Frederick II holds a field-marshall¡¯s baton and wears the Russian Order of St. Andrew, which he received in 1740. This portrait was probably executed on the basis of the first portrait.
Marianne Cochois, a French dancer, was the premi¨¨re danseuse at the Berlin Opera since 1742. Frederick II the Great, Prussian king since 1740, found her equal to Terpsichore, muse of the Dance. She was the younger sister of Babette Cochois, dramatic actress.
Barbara Campanini (1721-1799) known as Barnarina, was an Italian dancer with European fame. In 1739, she successfully performed in Paris, and then went to London for a still more triumphant career. By 1744, she was a famous dancer in Venice, and Frederick II the Great invited her to dance at the Berlin Opera from 1744 to 1748. This portrait of Barbarina was commissioned by Frederick and was originally installed behind his desk in his oval white and gold study at the Berlin Palace. The dancer's marriage to the son of the Prussian High Chancellor incurred the king's rage. Upon her divorce, Barbarina was given the title of Countess of Campanini.
Sigismund von Erlach (1661-1722), a military specialist; since 1699 he was the ambassador of the Prussian Elector in Switzerland; later he was a Hofmarschall of the Prussian court.... |
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