Maximilian III Joseph [1727-1777], copper engraving by Johann Christoph Sysang, signed in plate "Sysang sc." undated, circa 1750. Engraved inscription, "Carl Maximilian Joseph Chur-Furst in Bayern." Maximilian is represented in armor, and with knightly order of the Golden Fleece. original antique c.1750 copper engraving. Certification of Authenticity will be included upon buyers request.

Cut to design, 3.3/4" x c.6" [94mm x 153mm], paste on larger laid paper, 5.3/4" x 7.1/2" [146mm x 190mm]; A.L. handwritten number "20" at the upper right corner. A little aging, very good condition.

A different version of this portrait engraved by Sysang is located at the Library of Trier, [Port #2686].

Johann Christoph Sysang [1703-1757, Leipzig, Saxony Germany], was trained in the workshop of Martin Bernigeroth (1670-1733, Leipzig). He was active in Halle, Dresden, Prague and Leipzig.

Reference:
Bryan's Dictionary, 1865, 782.
Thieme-Becker, XXXII, 367-68.

Several engravings by Sysang are present in the museum collections [British Museum lists 55 of his works in its collection].

Maximilian III Joseph, Duke of Bavaria [Karl Johann Leopold Ferdinand Nepomuk Alexander von Bayern]; (28 March 1727 - 30 December 1777) was Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Bavaria from 1745 to 1777. Born in Munich, Maximilian was the eldest son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII and his wife, Maria Amalia of Austria, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I. Upon his father's death in January 1745, he inherited a country in the process of being invaded by Austrian armies (see War of the Austrian Succession). The 18-year-old Maximilian Joseph wavered between the Peace-party, led by his mother Maria Amalia of Austria and Army Commander Friedrich Heinrich von Seckendorff and the War-party, led by Foreign Minister General Ignaz Count of Toerring and the French envoy Chavigny.

After the decisive defeat in the Battle of Pfaffenhofen on 15 April Maximilian Joseph quickly abandoned his father's imperial pretenses and made peace with Maria Theresa in the Treaty of Fuessen, in which he agreed to support her husband, Grand Duke Francis Stephen of Tuscany, in the upcoming imperial election. During the Seven Years' War Bavarian forces then fought on Habsburg's side. Maximilian Joseph's sister Maria Josepha of Bavaria was married in 1765 with Maria Theresa's son, Emperor Joseph II.

Maximilian Joseph was a progressive and enlightened ruler who did much to improve the development of his country. The elector encouraged agriculture, industries and the exploitation of the mineral wealth of the country and abolished the Jesuit censorship of the press. In 1747 the porcelain factory at Nymphenburg was established, while the Codex Maximilianeus bavaricus civilis was written in 1756. Munich's first academic institution, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, was founded in 1759 by Maximilian III. During the severe famine in 1770 Maximilian sold crown jewels to pay corn shipments. In this year he also issued his edict against the extravagant pomposity of the Church which contributed to the end of the era of Bavarian rococo. He also forbade the Oberammergau Passion Play. In 1771 the elector regulated the general school attendance.

Provenance:
This plate comes from a collection of engravings bound by the German art collector "A.L." The finalized collection of hand-numbered engravings is dated 1762 which provides additional warranty that the engravings are authentic and created prior to 1762; auctioned in London, UK.

Artwork will be mailed unframed.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------- $16.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) -- $32.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) --- $45.50