Johann Christof Merck

Johann Christof Merck, or Merk (before 1695, Schwäbisch Hall - after 1726, Potsdam) was a German painter who specialized in uniformed portraits and animals.

The Ulmer Mastiff

Life and work

Very little is known about his origins. In 1786, the Berlin historian, Friedrich Nicolai, noted that his family background had not been handed down, nor was there any indication of where or with whom he may have received his artistic training. It is also unclear when or why he came from Swabia to Brandenburg.[1]

In Berlin, after 1695, he worked at the Electoral Court. Under the reign of Elector Frederick III (later King Frederick I of Prussia), he created hunting scenes and animal paintings, including one of his best known works, the "Ulmer Mastiff" (1705), one of the King's favorite dogs. From 1717 he worked at the court of King Frederick William I in Potsdam.

There, he concentrated on portraits, including equestrian portraits of the King and the Margraves; Philip William and Christian Ludwig. The King, who was known as the "Soldatenkönig" (Soldier King), commissioned Merck to paint life-size portraits of all the members of his Prussian Infantry Regiment #6, called the "Langen Kerls" (Tall Guys) or, in English, the Potsdam Giants.[2]

He also served as a Professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts.

References
  1. Friedrich Nicolai: Beschreibung der Königlichen Residenzstädte Berlin und Potsdam, aller daselbst befindlicher Merkwürdigkeiten, und der umliegenden Gegend. Friedrich Nicolai, Berlin 1786
  2. Uwe A. Oster, Sein Leben war das traurigste der Welt: Friedrich II und der Kampf mit seinem Vater, Piper Verlag, 2011 ISBN 978-3-492-95382-5 Online

Further reading
  • Helmut Börsch-Supan: Die Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald. Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Gebr. Mann, Berlin 1965.
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