oil/canvas
86 x 63 cm
The painting is framed
Friedrich (Friedrich) August Rutowski (1702-64), natural son of King August II; major general of the Saxon army 1727, commander of the Saxon guard 1737, Saxon field marshal 1749. Married to the crown swordswoman, Ludwika Aniela Lubomirska, he became a Saxon infantry general and later a field marshal while his royal father was still alive. August III appointed him military governor of Dresden in 1740. From 1742 he was also head of a dragoon regiment. During the First Silesian War, he commanded Saxon troops in Bohemia and took part in the capture of Prague on November 26, 1742. During the Second Silesian War, he commanded Saxon and Austrian troops in the lost battle with the Prussians at Kotliska. In 1749 he was promoted to field marshal. In the Third Silesian War, he suffered defeat in the battle against the overwhelming Prussian forces at Pirna. In 1724 he became a Chevalier of the Order of the White Eagle, and in 1736 of the Order of St. Henry.
Silvestre Louis de Silvestre, 18th century (1675-1760)
Louis de Silvestre was born in 1675 in France. At first he was taught painting by his father and later by Charles Le Brun. In 1701 he was in Rome, where he perfected his craft under the tutelage of Carlo Maratt. He also trained at the Royal Academy in Paris, where he became a professor in 1709. From 1716 to 1748 he stayed at the Saxon court in Dresden, as court painter to two Polish kings of the Wettin dynasty - August II and August III. In 1727 he became director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden. He was also associated with Warsaw, where he made decorations for the Saxon Palace. In retirement, he returned to France, but in 1752 he was given the position of director at the Royal Academy in Paris, which he held until his death in 1760.
He was a representative of the Baroque court style. He painted portraits of kings in the French style, as well as paintings on mythological and historical subjects. He created many oil paintings and frescoes, but was considered an imitator rather than a creator of new styles.
