Here stands the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great. It is a powerful symbol of Prussian history. This masterpiece by Christian Daniel Rauch commemorates King Frederick II of Prussia.
The horse Installation is located on Unter den Linden avenue in Berlin’s Mitte district. Rauch created it between 1839 and 1851. The horse Installation marks the transition from neoclassicism to realism in sculpture.
Notice “The Old Fritz” dressed in military uniform. He sports an ermine coat and tricorne hat. He sits proudly on horseback. Below him are leading generals, statesmen, artists, and scientists of his time.
Frederick William III commissioned this monument in 1839. Karl Ludwig Friebel cast it beginning in 1845. Friebel was brought from Lauchhammer for this purpose. Changes to the base figures extended the work to six years. The horse Installation was unveiled on May 31, 1851. It influenced many monuments erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Beneath the horse Installation, the plinth is unusually large. It includes reliefs of the four cardinal virtues. Look for important scenes from Frederick’s life. Depictions of 74 notable men from his reign are also present. Bronze plaques list military men, philosophers, mathematicians, poets and more. These figures were important in Prussia’s rise to power in the mid-18th century.
During World War II, the horse Installation was encased in concrete for protection. In May 1950, East Berlin decided to move it to Sanssouci Park in Potsdam. Metal thieves damaged it after the protective casing was removed. It was dismantled and taken away between July 13 and 19.
The horse Installation was stored in pieces and almost melted down. By 1962, it was re-erected in the hippodrome at Charlottenhof Palace.
In the 1980s, East Germany re-evaluated its view of Prussian heritage. In 1980, Erich Honecker praised Frederick “the Great.” The statue was restored and returned to Unter den Linden in 1980. It was placed approximately 6 meters east of its original position.
After German reunification, the horse Installation was scientifically restored. It was replaced in its original position. The wrought-iron fence and 19th-century lamp posts were recreated. In 2006, paint was thrown at it during a protest. It was restored again and given a wax coating to protect against graffiti.
The monument stands 13.5 meters tall. The equestrian statue itself is 5.66 meters high. Frederick holds the reins in his left hand. In his right, he has a walking stick. The plinth is 7.84 meters high. It bears two bands of additional sculpture above inscriptions. The upper section shows scenes from the king’s life. The four cardinal virtues are at the corners. The middle depicts 74 great men of Frederick the Great’s time in life size.
The horse Installation faces east at the west end of Bebelplatz. It is enclosed by a low wrought-iron fence.
The upper sculpted band shows scenes from Frederick’s life. Emblems of the four cardinal virtues are at the corners. The middle band depicts 74 men of Frederick the Great’s time in life-size. Prince Henry of Prussia is there. Also see Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz and Hans Joachim von Zieten are present too.
Between the mounted figures stand 25 key men of Frederick’s career. These figures include diplomats, the Prime Minister of Prussia, jurists, poets and philosophers. The lowest band lists names of additional key figures from Frederick’s reign in bronze.
The south face displays bronze plaques with the names of 25 generals. The north face contains the names of 32 key military figures. The west face includes 14 men who contributed to the Prussian state. These include diplomats, authors, jurists and more.
The east face bears the names of Frederick the Great, Frederick William III, and Frederick William IV. It also notes the dates of the monument’s commissioning and completion.
The horse Installation has witnessed history. It embodies Prussia’s complex past. Its journey reflects changing attitudes toward Frederick the Great. Take a moment to appreciate this detailed artistic and historical achievement.