Sansoucci Flashcards
Function:
The summer palace of Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia.
Composition:
Single storey principal corps de logis, flanked by two side wings.
Piano Nobile:
Feature large French windows, to allow light in to the principal reception rooms.
Dome:
Crowns the central bow (curved section) of the corps de logis.
Oeil de Boeuf windows:
Decorate the dome. Cherubs adorn the top of the windows.
Balustrade:
Runs above the dentilated cornice and entabulature. Decorative urns rest on top.
Caryatids:
Grouped in pairs between the windows. Represent the Bacchants, the companions of the wine god Bacchus.
Side wings:
East wing housed the secretaries’, gardeners’ and servants’ rooms, while the west wing held the palace kitchen and stables. Obscured by rows of trees – underscoring the primarily pleasure-driven function of the building.
Vineyard:
The large windows on the piano nobile provide views of the vineyard below.
Influence of the Rococo style:
Demonstrated in the building’s playful ornamentation, serpentine curves, ornate interior and exterior ornamentation and use of stucco (plaster) reflect the influence of the French court on the tastes of the wealthy European aristocracy .
Function of the building as a private a pleasure palace:
Its relatively small size, extensive views of the countryside ande themes of pleasure and romantic love (e.g. the bacchants and the cherubs) reflect the palace’s intended used as a retreat for Frederick and his private guests.
Location:
Above a vineyard and extensive pleasure gardens. Reflected the Rococo ideal of harmony between man and nature. The garden, a space outside the artificial rules of society, was associated with freedom and the natural (Fragonard’s The Swing), underscoring Frederick’s need for a private residence where he could escape the pomp and ceremony of the royal court
Inspired by Versailles:
However far smaller than its French counterpart, but similar number of numerous temples and folies (e.g. the Chines House) in the surrounding park.
Sansouci: (without care)
Written in gilded letters on the dome reflects the palace’s function as a private place of retreat for the king during the summer months rather than display of power or strength.
Frederick the Great and the Seven Years’ War (1756-63)
Achieved a high reputation as a military commander. His final success against France and Russia despite great odds in the Seven Years War enabled Prussia to greatly increase its territories (such as Poland) and become a leading military power in Europe under his rule. . He was also a considerable patron of the arts and the Enlightenment, reflected in his prominent role in the design of Sansouci.
Frederician Rococo:
A Francophile, King Frederick adapted the Rococo style (associated with the French court) for Sanssouci. Its opulence and playfulness suited the palace’s function. The Frederician Rococo (Sanssouci and Potsdam Palace), more exuberant than contemporary French Rococo, embodied the economic, military and cultural prosperity of the Kingdom of Prussia under Frederick’s reign.
Frederick the Great (patron)
Insisted on a building on ground level that could be entered immediatley from the garden – highlighting his requirement for a house with close connections to nature. He stipulated two entrances to the private suites (one for the king and one for guests) – underscoring his need for privacy. The artworks and sculptures in the picture gallery reflect his artistic tastes. The palace allowed him to retreat from his military and diplomatic responsibilities, as well as the difficulties in his personal life (known to have had relationships with men at a time when homosexuality was not permitted).
Interior decoration:
Stucco, white carara marble, gilded ceilings and opulent ornamentation reinforce the pleasure-driven function of the building and the king’s love of beauty
Stucco:
Brick structure plastered in distinctive yellow stucco, highlighted by large French windows.
Political and national identity
The opulent, graceful and whimsical style of the Frederician Rococo embodied the economic, military and cultural prosperity of the Kingdom of Prussia under King Frederick the Great – encapsulating the ‘Golden Age’ of Prussian identity as a leading 18th c European power.
