#frederic ii

Frederick II (the Great), 1712 - 1786. King of Prussia (With Field Marshal James Francis Edward Keith, 1696 - 1758 and Two Unidentified Prussian…

Artist: Unknown

Date: After 1750

Medium: Oil on canvas

"If birds of prey hunting is a pleasure, as Lacurne de Sainte-Palaye asserted in the 16th century, it's also a science. Emperor Frederick II († 1250) was an expert on the subject. His treatise 'De arte venandi cum avibus', illuminated in Naples at the time of his son, Prince Manfred, was translated into French at the very beginning of the 14th century, and the illustration of this new version was copied from the Neapolitan model. The author describes the animals hunted and the various species of falcons, before going on to discuss hunting techniques, breeding, training and care of the birds. He points out that this art is not suitable for children. The young falconer must be sufficiently developed to have a voice that carries far. Skill in movement, agility and boldness are essential. He must also know how to swim, so as to be able to reach his bird when it's on the opposite side of a body of water. In fact, the painter depicted the hunter swimming across a lake to reach his hawk which is holding his prey."

Marie-Thérèse Gousset, Enluminures médiévales [Medieval Illuminations], 2005, BNF, p. 45.

The incredible illustration is from: Frédéric II de Hohenstaufen, Traité de fauconnerie, L'art de chasser avec des oiseaux, trad. de Jean II de Dampierre Champagne, vers 1310, BNF Fr. 12400, f. 115v.

L'allégence de la Diet silésienne devant Frédéric II (The Allegiance of the Silesian Diet before Frederick II in Breslau)