Drawing signed Georg Friedrich Schmidt portraits 1742 18th century period

Framed drawing by Georg Friedrich Schmidt* depicting a profile portrait of two figures, dated 1742. 18th century.

Wear from use, see photo, later frame.


Georg Friedrich Schmidt*
born January 24, 1712 in Wandlitz, and died January 25, 1775 in Berlin, Germany, was a German painter, draughtsman and aquafortist.
Schmidt first studied drawing and engraving with Georg Paul Busch at the Berlin Academy in 1730, before enlisting in the Artillery Corps, where he spent six years. After that, he made the trip to Paris (joining Jean-Georges Wille in Strasbourg), where he was a pupil of Larmessin after having tried his hand at Lancret. On May 5, 1742, he was admitted to the Académie royale de Paris with a portrait by Mignard as his reception piece. The same year, and the following year, he exhibited at the Salon de l'Académie in Paris.

In 1744, he returned to Berlin, where he was appointed engraver to the King of Prussia. In 1757, Empress Elisabeth, whose portrait he had engraved after Tocqué, brought him to St. Petersburg, where he organized an engraving school to reproduce the portraits of the Russian emperors.

Returning to Berlin in 1762, Schmidt produced a considerable output of 200 pieces, mostly portraits. At the end of his career, he engraved a few etchings. Described by Frederick II as "a skilful engraver in Berlin, who makes beautiful pastel paintings", Benezit states that "he can perhaps be reproached for a certain coldness". For his contemporary Watelet, he "would perhaps be the first engraver if Corneille Visscher had not lived".
Dimensions

drawing 19 cm by 15 cm
Frame 37 cm by 32.5 cm
Catalogue number : 920 371
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Ref: KV9CW2PY1S