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Fürstenzug

Procession of the Princes

 Wilhelm Walther
1905-06

Dresden / Fürstenzug

Description

Large mural of a mounted procession of the princes of Saxony, made out of 25,000 Meißner porcelain tiles. 102 meters long and 9.5 meters high (957 m2), it is one of the largest porcelain artworks in the world. It shows the thousand year history of the Princely house of Wettin. By 1589, the wall where the picture stands was already decorated with a chalk picture. For the 800th anniversary of the house of Wettin another stucco version was commissioned and executed by Wilhelm Walther, but it deteriorated rapidly. From 1904 to 1907 the current picture was constructed with Meissen porcelain tiles, directed by Walther himself. The mural depicts 35 Saxon kings, from Conrad, Margrave of Meissen to George of Saxony, and 58 other persons.

The different scenes of the Fürstenzug are:

Photo
click for an enlargment		 # Caption English name
Click for larger photo in separate window 1 (none) Herald on a horse
Click for larger photo in separate window 2-11 (none) Seven musicians on horses and three flag carriers
Click for larger photo in separate window 12-14 KONRAD D. GROSSE 1127-1156
with a flag carrier and a groomsman 		Conrad, Margrave of Meissen (1127-1156) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 15-17 OTTO D. REICHE 1156-1190
ALBRECHT D. STOLZE 1190-1195
and a flag carrier 		Otto II, Margrave of Meissen (1156-1190) (Wikipedia)
Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1190-1195) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 18-21 a sword carrier and a laurel wreath carrier
DIETRICH D. BEDRAENGTE 1195-1221
HEINRICH D. ERLAUCHTE 1221-1288 		Dietrich I, Margrave of Meissen (1195-1221) (Wikipedia)
Henry III, Margrave of Meissen (1221-1288) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 22-23 ALBRECHT II. 1288-1307
with a groomsman 		Albert II, Margrave of Meissen (1288-1307) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 24-26 FRIEDRICH D. GEBISSENE 1307-1324
FRIEDRICH D. ERNSTHAFTE 1324-1349
FRIEDRICH D. STRENGE 1349-1381 		Frederick I, Margrave of Meissen (1307-1324) (Wikipedia)
Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen (1324-1349) (Wikipedia)
Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia (1349-1381) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 27-29 (none) Three servants with flag and laurel wrath
Click for larger photo in separate window 30 FRIEDRICH D. STREITBARE 1381-1428 Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (1381-1428) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 31-33 ERNST 1464-1486
FRIEDRICH D. SANFTMUETHIGE 1428-1463
ALBRECHT D. BEHERZTE 1486-1500 		Ernest, Elector of Saxony (1464-1486) (Wikipedia)
Frederick II, Elector of Saxony (1428-1464) (Wikipedia)
Albert III, Duke of Saxony (1486-1500) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 34-36 (none) Three servants with flag and laurel wreath
Click for larger photo in separate window 37-39 FRIEDRICH D. WEISE 1486-1525
JOHANN D. BESTAENDIGE 1525-1532
JOHANN FRIEDRICH D. GROSSMUETHIGE 1532-1547 		Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (1486-1525) (Wikipedia)
John, Elector of Saxony (1525-1532) (Wikipedia)
John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (1532-1547) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 40-44 GEORG D. BAERTIGE 1500-1539
HEINRICH D. FROMME 1539-1541
two soldiers and an African servant with two hounds 		George, Duke of Saxony (1500-1539) (Wikipedia)
Henry IV, Duke of Saxony (1539-1541) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 45-46 MORITZ 1547-1553
AUGUST 1553-1586 		Maurice, Elector of Saxony (1547-1553) (Wikipedia)
Augustus, Elector of Saxony (1553-1586) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 47-51 CHRISTIAN I. 1586-1591
CHRISTIAN II. 1591-1611
JOHANN GEORG I. 1611-1656
and two soldiers 		Christian I, Elector of Saxony (1586-1591) (Wikipedia)
Christian II, Elector of Saxony (1591-1611) (Wikipedia)
John George I, Elector of Saxony (1611-1656) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 52-55 JOHANN GEORG II. 1656-1680
JOHANN GEORG III. 1680-1691
JOHANN GEORG IV. 1691-1694
and a soldier 		John George II, Elector of Saxony (1656-1680) (Wikipedia)
John George III, Elector of Saxony (1680-1691) (Wikipedia)
John George IV, Elector of Saxony (1691-1694) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 56-59 AUGUST II. 1694-1733
AUGUST III. 1733-1763
and two soldiers 		Augustus II the Strong (1694-1733) (Wikipedia)
Augustus III of Poland(1733-1763) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 60-65 FRIEDRICH CHRISTIAN 1763
FR. AUGUST D. GERECHTE 1763-1827
ANTON D. GUETIGE 1827-1836
FR. AUGUST II. 1836-1854
and two soldiers 		Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony (1763) (Wikipedia)
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (1763-1827) (Wikipedia)
Anthony of Saxony (1827-1836) (Wikipedia)
Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (1836-1854) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 66-69 JOHANN 1854-1873
ALBERT 1873
GEORG
and a soldier 		John of Saxony (1854-1873) (Wikipedia)
Albert of Saxony (1873-1902) (Wikipedia)
George of Saxony (1902-1904) (Wikipedia)
Click for larger photo in separate window 70-73 (none) Two officers on horses and two soldiers.
Click for larger photo in separate window 74-94
  1. Student representing the Technical University of Dresden
  2. Student representing the University of Leipzig (Herr von Erdmannsdorff)
  3. Student representing the Dresden Holy Cross School (depicted is Walther's son)
  4. architect Georg Hermann Nicolai (a successor of Semper; in the picture with bowler hat) (1811-1881, Wikipedia)
  5. the painter Carl Gottlieb Peschel (1798-1879, Wikipedia)
  6. the painter Julius Hübner (1798-1879, Wikipedia) (who were involved in designing the Fürstenzug),
    Peschel and Hübner have a drawing of the Fürstenzug in their hands.
  7. the sculptor Johannes Schilling (1828-1910; Wikipedia)
  8. the sculptor Ernst Hähnel (1811-1891; Wikipedia)
  9. the painter Ludwig Richter (looking out of the picture) (1803-1884; Wikipedia)
  10. little boy
  11. girl - the only female figure of the Fürstenzug!
  12. boy with plant in pot
    this group of children is a design by Ludwig Richter
  13. Dr. Ernst Förstemann, the historian, archivist and librarian, translator of the Dresden Maya manuscript) (1822-1906; Wikipedia)
  14. Privy councillor Wiesner (Head of Department of Fine Arts in Saxony Ministry of Culture, who supported the project),
  15. Prof. Freiherr von Weißenbach, art scientific adviser for the Fürstenzug, with a book titled Archæologie and his family coat of arms (ox's heads) on his collar
  16. behind Weißenbach's shoulder only the head of a person is visible (the 94th person "discovered" in 2006)
  17. the bricklayer Kern (Walther's assistent), with a square with the text f kern maurer 1872
  18. a Saxon Miner
  19. a Saxon Farmer with some ears of corn
  20. bricklayer Pietsch (Walther's assistent), with a trowel
  21. Wilhelm Walther, the Fürstenzug's creator (looking out from the image).

Inscription(s)

ein
fürstenstamm
dess heldenlauf
reicht bis
zu unsern tagen,
in grauer vorzeit
ging er auf
mit unsres volkes
sagen. 		du alter stamm,
sei stets erneut
in edler fürsten
reihe;
wie alle zeit
dein volk dir
weiht
die alte deutsche
treue

Signature

Nach dem 1876 vollendeten Sgraffito
Wilhelm Walther's
neu hergestellt von der
Königlichen Porzellan-Manufaktur
Meissen 1905-1906

Information Sign

nach schwerer beschädigung
bei dem anglo-amerikanischen
bombenangriff am 13. februar 1945
wiederhergestellt und aus
anlass des 30. jahrestages der
gründung der ddr übergeben.

Annotation

The mural was designed as a backdrop to the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the Wettin dynasty's reign to be held in 1889.

Surprisingly the mural survived the allied bombing of 1945 relatively unscathed. The ceramic tiles did not even fall from the wall even in the fire storm. A comprehensive restoration of the mural was undertaken in 1978-79.

Sculptor

Sources & Information

Tags

  • Christian II (Elector of Saxiony)
  • Coat of arms
  • Dietrich I Markgraf von Meissen
  • Ernst Kurfürst von Sachsen
  • Förstemann, Ernst
  • Frederick Augustus I (King of Saxony)
  • Frederick Augustus II (King of Saxony)
  • Frederick Christian (Elector of Saxony)
  • Frederick I (Elector of Saxony)
  • Frederick I (Margrave of Meissen)
  • Frederick II (Elector of Saxony)
  • Frederick II (Margrave of Meissen)
  • Frederick III (Elector of Saxony)
  • Frederick III (Margrave of Meissen)
  • George (Duke of Saxony)
  • George (King of Saxony)
  • Hähnel, Ernst
  • Heinrich Herzog von Sachsen
  • Heinrich III Markgraf von Meissen
  • Herald
  • Hübner, Julius
  • John (Elector of Saxony)
  • John (King of Saxony)
  • John Frederick (Elector of Saxony)
  • John George I (Elector of Saxony)
  • John George II (Elector of Saxony)
  • John George III (Elector of Saxony)
  • John George IV (Elector of Saxony)
  • Konrad I Markgraf von Meissen
  • Monarch
  • Moritz Kurfürst von Sachsen
  • Nicolai, Georg Hermann
  • Otto II (Margrave of Meissen)
  • Peschel, Carl Gottlieb
  • Richter, Ludwig
  • Sculptor
  • Student
  • Walther, Wilhelm

    • Locatie (N 51°3'9" - E 13°44'20") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

    Item Code: desn026; Photograph: 21 January 2011
    Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
    If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
    © Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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