Art and Art History Collection (Saskia)

August III, King of Poland (Friedrich August II of Saxony)

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Publisher

Saskia, Ltd., Cultural Documentation

Abstract

Mengs was widely regarded in his day as Europe's greatest living painter. He eschewed the dramatic illusionism and dynamism of the Baroque style in his figural compositions, preferring instead to blend quotations from ancient sculptures with stylistic elements of Raphael, Correggio, and Titian. The results are generally cold, insipid, and contrived, however, and Mengs's reputation has declined precipitously since the 18th century. Some of his portraits display a freedom and sureness of touch entirely lacking in his more ambitious works. Mengs's treatise Reflections on Beauty and Taste in Painting (1762) was also influential in his day. He worked for the Saxon court of Elector Augustus III.

Keywords

Dresden, Germany, Dresden, Germany, Style: German Neoclassical, School: Neoclassical, Movement: Neoclassicism, German, Painting;, Painting

Geographic Location

Dresden, Germany; Dresden, Germany

Time Period

1744

Type

StillImage

Rights

This material is licensed by USF Libraries for the research and teaching needs of USF students, staff, and faculty only. See: https://lib.usf.edu/collections-and-discovery/collection-management/user-terms/

Access Restrictions

Only thumbnail images and descriptive information are available to non-USF users. Full access to this collection is available only to authorized users on the USF network on campus or via VPN.

Media Type

Paintings; Pictures

Holding Location

University of South Florida

Identifier

A01-MGF0215

August III, King of Poland (Friedrich August II of Saxony)

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