- Title: Berlin
- Author: Georg Balthasar Probst
- Date: c. 1760
- Condition: Very Good Plus - light age toning and foxing, issued center fold
- Inches: 45 x 17 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 114.3 x 43.18 [Paper]
- Product ID: 001724
Capital of Kings: A Grand Engraved Prospect of Berlin
This richly colored eighteenth-century bird’s-eye view presents Berlin from across the River Spree, with the city’s crowded rooftops, church spires, palaces, gardens, and fortified urban fabric rising behind a lively foreground of windmills, farmhouses, pedestrians, horsemen, and river traffic. The broad Spree is animated with sailing vessels, working boats, bridges, and quays, while a ribbon cartouche inscribed “BERLIN” crowns the composition and a small armorial device appears at upper right. The print combines a recognizable civic panorama with the picturesque detail of everyday life at the city’s rural edge, offering an engaging image of Berlin as both a major European capital and a bustling riverine community.
The city at War
The Seven Years' War ran from 1756 to 1763 and set Prussia against Austria, France, Russia and Saxony, among others. Frederick had massed his forces in Silesia, which left Berlin poorly defended. In October 1760, Russian and Austrian troops captured the city and held it for three days, from October 9 to 12. The city council chose to surrender formally to the Russians rather than the Austrians, since Austria was Prussia's bitterest enemy.
The occupation was fairly mild for a wartime capture. Even so, private homes were sacked, the city paid a ransom of 1.5 million thalers, and the gunpowder plant was destroyed. The occupiers left as Prussian reinforcements approached. It was still a serious blow to Frederick's prestige, because observers noted that Prussia had no realistic hope of taking St. Petersburg or Vienna in return.
Rescue and recovery
Prussia survived largely by luck. When Empress Elizabeth of Russia died at the start of 1762, her successor, Peter III, admired Frederick, ended the war and gave back the occupied Prussian lands under the Treaty of Petersburg in May 1762. After peace came in 1763, Frederick had the time and money to turn to more refined projects.
Background on Creator
Georg Balthasar Probst (1732-1801) was a renowned German engraver and print publisher who left a significant mark on the artistic landscape of Augsburg, Bavaria, during the 18th century. Born into a family of artists – his grandfather was Jeremias Wolff and his father Johann Balthasar Probst, both noted engravers – Georg Balthasar inherited a passion for the craft and honed his skills under their tutelage.
Probst's legacy extends beyond his artistic achievements. He played a crucial role in the development of the Augsburg printmaking industry, establishing his own publishing house and employing skilled artisans. His dedication to quality and innovation ensured the wide circulation of his prints throughout Europe, contributing to the dissemination of artistic and cultural trends.