Abstract

The all-male tobacco parliaments [Tabakskollegien] of Frederick William I (r. 1713-40) had little in common with the convivial smoking parties [Tabagien] of his father and predecessor, Frederick I (r. 1701-13). The “parliaments” were not particularly festive occasions; rather, they simply marked the end of the day-long working sessions that Frederick William I and his ministers held once a week.

In this scene, the king’s younger sons, Prince Heinrich (1726-1802) and Prince Ferdinand (1730-1813), interrupt one of their father’s tobacco parliaments, perhaps to bid him good night.

Prince Heinrich and Prince Ferdinand at a so-called Tobacco Parliament Tabakskollegium (c. 1738-39)

Source

Source: Oil painting by Georg Lisiewski, ca. 1738/39.
bpk-Bildagentur, image number 00012914. For rights inquiries, please contact Art Resource at requests@artres.com (North America) or bpk-Bildagentur at kontakt@bpk-bildagentur.de (for all other countries).

Recommended Citation

Prince Heinrich and Prince Ferdinand at a so-called Tobacco Parliament Tabakskollegium (c. 1738-39), published in: German History in Documents and Images, <https://germanhistorydocs.org/en/the-holy-roman-empire-1648-1815/ghdi:image-2918> [July 13, 2024].