Fürstenzug

The Fürstenzug (English: Procession of Princes) in Dresden, Germany, is a large mural of a mounted procession of the rulers of Saxony. It was originally painted between 1871 and 1876 to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Wettin Dynasty, Saxony's ruling family. In order to make the work weatherproof, it was replaced with approximately 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles between 1904 and 1907. With a length of 102 metres (335 ft), it is known as the largest porcelain artwork in the world. The mural displays the ancestral portraits of the 35 margraves, electors, dukes and kings of the House of Wettin between 1127 and 1904.

The Fürstenzug on Augustusstraße

The Fürstenzug is located on the outer wall of the Stallhof (Stables Courtyard) of Dresden Castle.

History

By 1589, the outer wall of the recently built Stallhof (Stables Courtyard) of the Dresden Castle was already decorated with a fresco.[1][2]

For the upcoming 800th anniversary of the House of Wettin in 1889, another stucco version of a large-scale mural was commissioned. It was painted by the artist Wilhelm Walther between 1871 and 1876. Since the picture rapidly deteriorated, it was replaced with about 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles between 1904 and 1907.[3] The mural depicts the 35 Saxon margraves, electors, dukes and kings from Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, who ruled in the 12th century, to George of Saxony who was king for only two years in the 20th century. The only ones missing are Heinrich I von Eilenburg (c. 1089) and the last king of Saxony, Frederick Augustus III, who ruled from 1904 to 1918. Also shown are 59 scientists, artisans, craftsmen, children and farmers.[2]

Only minimal damage to the tiles resulted from the February 13, 1945 bombing of Dresden.

Panorama
The Fürstenzug, starting with Margrave Conrad in the 12th century (left) to King George who ruled at the beginning of the 20th century (right)

Shown noblemen
Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, the first ruler in the procession
A girl in the children's group is the only female person in the Fürstenzug
The creator Wilhelm Walther, the last person in the Fürstenzug

The 35 noblemen, Margraves, Electors, Dukes and Kings, are shown on horseback while foot soldiers and other people accompany them. The name of each ruler is inscribed below his image. Everyone depicted wears contemporary clothing.

Dimensions

The Fürstenzug is 101.9 metres (334 ft) long and 10.5 metres (34 ft) high.[3] Due to 18 windows in the upper part, the tile area comprises only 968 square meters.[3] Each tile measures 20.5 centimetres (8.1 in) by 20.5 centimetres (8.1 in). Hence, approximately 23,000 tiles are placed on the wall.[3]

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See also

Further reading
  • Reinhard Delau: Der Fürstenzug in Dresden. Edition Sächsische Zeitung, Dresden 2005, ISBN 3-938325-12-7
  • Karlheinz Blaschke: Der Fürstenzug zu Dresden. Urania, Freiburg 1991, ISBN 3-332-00377-1
  • Clemens Freiherr von Hausen: Der Fürstenzug auf dem Sgraffito-Fries am Königlichen Schlosse zu Dresden. Dresden 1903

Notes and references
  1. Fritz Löffler: Das alte Dresden - Geschichte seiner Bauten. 16th ed. Leipzig: Seemann, 2006, ISBN 978-3-86502-000-0 (in German)
  2. Reinhard Delau: Der Fürstenzug in Dresden. Edition Sächsische Zeitung, Dresden 2005, ISBN 3-938325-12-7 (in German)
  3. Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH, Historical Collection, File AA III K 70

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