Beschreibung:

Paul Scheurich (1883-1945): Très rare bronze figurant le Prince héritier Wilhelm de Prusse, circa 1911 Paul Scheurich (1883-1945): A very rare bronze figure of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, circa 1911Wearing the uniform of the 'Ersten Leibhusarenregiment' in Danzig-Langfuhr, on a square black marble plinth, signed 'Scheurich' and dated 1911 on the back of the base, 30cm highFootnotesExhibited: Meissen, Museum der Meissen Porzellan-Stiftung, Paul Scheurich Porzellangestalter Zeichner Grafiker, 6 March 2020-21 February 2021 This bronze figure of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (1882-1951) is one of the earliest known sculptural works by Paul Scheurich Crown Prince Wilhelm is depicted wearing the uniform of the 1st Leibhusarenregiment of Leipzig-Langfuhr, which he later commanded. In 1911, the Crown Prince stood at the pinnacle of Prussian society and so it is not surprising that Scheurich's humorous and ironic depiction was not published, exhibited or even offered for sale. Even the foundry where it was produced remains unknown and Scheurich may have funded the cast himself. In the heyday of the Berlin Secession, Scheurich exhibited bronzes at their exhibitions, including 'Bruder Lutz' in 1919/20 (see lot 41). The Berlin Secession was an art movement established in Germany in 1898. It was formed in reaction to the Association of Berlin Artists, and the restrictions on contemporary art imposed by Kaiser Wilhelm II, father of the Crown Prince. Under the leadership of Walter Leistikow Franz Skarbina and Max Liebermann various artists, including women, converged to form a "free association for the organization of artistic exhibitions". This bronze may be seen in the context of criticism of the tight grip the Prussian establishment tried to exert over artistic expression in Berlin in the early 20th century.