Discover how the value of similar works has evolved over the past 10 years. Art is not only beauty — it's an investment.
Discover how the value of similar works has evolved over the past 10 years. Art is not only beauty — it's an investment.
An outstanding example of 19th-century court painting — the watercolor Nicholas I with His Entourage after the Parade (1847), created by the German artist Franz Krüger (1797–1857), court painter of Prussia and official portraitist of the Russian Imperial court.
The composition captures a ceremonial scene with Emperor Nicholas I on a black steed, accompanied by both military and family members. Arranged in a dynamic arc, the Emperor is in the center, flanked by Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich and the young heir (presumably Alexander II) in the uniform of the Life Guards Hussars. On the left, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and the Grand Duchesses are seated in an elegant carriage, shielded by parasols.
The painting is signed on the lower front: F. Krüger 1847. On the reverse is an authentic ink inscription confirming its participation in the July 1916 auction of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (I.S.E.A.) at 38 Morskaya Street, Petrograd. The listed price of 1200 rubles indicates the high artistic and market value of the watercolor in pre-revolutionary Russia.
The work is housed in its original massive mahogany veneer frame with gilt molding.
Marks:
Signature on the front: F. Krüger 1847 (on the carriage rim)
Inscription on the reverse: F. Krüger 1847. Watercolor. 1200r. At the auction of I.S.E.A. Morskaya St. 38. July 1916.
Dimensions: Watercolor: 55 × 79 cm. Frame: approx. 80 × 105 cm.
Condition:
Very good condition. Paper shows minor age toning; the composition remains clearly legible under glass. Original frame in excellent condition.
Provenance:
Russia / Prussia, 1847. Documented participation in the 1916 I.S.E.A. auction, Petrograd.
Franz Krüger (1797–1857), one of the most influential court painters of his era, gained renown as a master of ceremonial compositions that combined dynastic representation with vivid genre observation. His collaboration with the Russian Imperial court in the 1840s became part of a complex visual language of power based on displays of order, continuity, and militarism.
This watercolor depicts a post-parade procession where military discipline and the imperial family are portrayed as a unified entity. Nicholas I appears as a living embodiment of imperial strength, while the women in the carriage symbolize stability and moral order. The arc-shaped composition, built on the principle of orthodox harmony, reflects both academic art standards and the visual codes of absolutist rule.
Its documented appearance at the 1916 I.S.E.A. auction attests to its museum-level significance. The fact that such an imperial work was publicly sold just one year before the Russian Revolution underscores the transitional moment in the monarchy’s fate. In turbulent times, works like this became not only collectibles but also visual chronicles of a vanishing era.
Today, Franz Krüger’s watercolor is a superb artistic document and an invaluable witness to the political and cultural identity of the late Russian Empire.
Superbly preserved watercolor with slight natural toning to the paper. Original museum-quality frame. The composition remains vivid and intact. A collectible and exhibition-level piece.
The condition report is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not comprehensive and may not reflect all defects, restorations, alterations, or adaptations, as Antiqon does not perform professional conservation-level assessments. The information is based on a qualified, yet subjective, evaluation by our specialists.Before purchasing, we recommend consultation with an independent expert.Please also consult our Terms and conditions and Glossary A-Z, which contain important information on lot characteristics and sale conditions.
