Matthieu, David Berlin 1697 - 1755 - attributed to Frederick II of Prussia as a Young General. Oil on canvas. Previously relined. 146 x 112cm. Original carved gallery frame. This unusual depiction shows Frederick the Great as a young, successful general after the first Silesian conflict (1740-1742). The Berlin-based painter David Matthieu shows the young King in a tunic beside the royal insignia of crown, scepter, imperial orb and ermine cloak. A cavalry battle is hinted at in the cloudy background. In 2010, the Military History Museum (Militärhistorische Museum) in Dresden acquired a painting of the Prussian King from a private owner. It shares the same composition as this one, but for a few differing details (fig. Arsprototo, 4-2010, pg.16). According to the kindly supplied information of the Military Museum, the painting has not been relined and is signed on the back of the canvas. Both compositions have similar dimensions, only the ornament of the fitting laces on Frederick's tunic is different. When the quality of painting, colouration, brushstrokes, composition of the hands, head, fabric and hair in both works are compared in detail, it is highly probable that both paintings were carried out by the same hand. Therefore, this version is likely also to have been produced around or shortly after 1743.