King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway, Duke of Schleswig and Holstein (1723-1766), copper engraving, by Johann Christopher Sysang, 1746, signed in plate "Sysang sc.", inscription, "Fridericus V. / Rex Dan: et. Norweg: / etc. etc." Original antique 1746' copper engraving. The Certification of Authenticity will be included upon buyers request.

Cut to design 3.1/2" x 6" [90mm x 151mm], paste on to a larger laid paper 5.3/4" x 7.1/2" [147mm x 190mm], A.L. handwritten number "50" at the upper right corner. Very good condition.

Johann Christoph Sysang [1703-1757] German Engraver, was trained in the workshop of Martin Bernigeroth. He was active in Halle, Dresden, Prague and Leipzig.

Several engravings by Sysang are present in the museum collections [British Museum lists 55 of his artworks in its collection]. Sysang created portraits of the Danish Royal Family in 1746 for the work entitled "Portraits Historiques des Hommes Illustres de Denmark." Stenley describes these engravings as "executed in neat clear style."

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

Frederick V (1723-1766) was king of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1746 until his death, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. "Prudentia et Constantia" (By prudence and steadfastness) was the motto he chose for his reign. The full title of the sovereign was: By the Grace of God, King of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.

Art and science were in good conditions under Frederick V, public entertainment and freedom of expression which had been banned under his Pietist father's reign, was again permitted, and in 1748 Nicolai Eigtved's Komediehus (Playhouse) on Kingens Nytorv was opened, he also founded the Royal Danish Academy of Art (Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in Copenhagen, which officially opened on 31 March 1754, his 31st birthday. Frederick purchased what would become known as the Danish West Indies from the Danish West India Company in 1754.

The king died at the age of 42, after twenty years of reign. His last words were reportedly: "It is a great consolation to me in my last hour that I have never willfully offended anyone and that there is not a drop of blood on my hands."

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