Panorama "Plan der Bataille von Molwitz"
Panorama "Plan der Bataille von Molwitz"
Sepia ink, red ink, ink and watercolours on two connected sheets. Horizonal rolled battle plan, labelled "PLAN der BATAILLE von MOLWITZ so den 10.ten April Anno. 1741 vorgefallen mit der Oestereichschen Armee." Detailed and finely coloured gouches: 13 portraits of generals on horseback (ca. 4 x 5 cm); depiction of the Prussian formation with coloured standards, cannon, and wagons; 6 coloured views of the surrounding villages and the fortress, and a small schematic plan of the Prussian and Austrian battle array. Inscribed on the reverse in the outer right edge "Bataille de Molwitz". Watermarked. A backed vertical restoration, restorations to the lower left edge and several restored and unrestored tears to the margins, yellowed. H 36, W 90.4 cm and H 36, W 92.5 cm. In a gilt embossed blue leather case.
1741
This scroll, which appears to have a commemorative function, was made after the victory at Mollwitz, probably for a high-ranking officer or perhaps even as a gift for the King himself. Several irregularities in the officer's rank designations indicate that the piece was made some time around the middle of the year 1741. Three officers are labelled with ranks, which they either did not yet, or no longer, held at the time of the battle. For example, Oberst (Colonel) Carl Friedrich von Posadowsky is labelled as “Gen. Maj.” (Major General). Since he only achieved this rank on 4th June 1741, we can assume that the scroll was made some time after this date. Generallieutenant (Lieutenant General) Count Adolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg, who received this rank in early December 1740, is listed with his previous rank of Major General. News of his promotion apparently did not circulate quickly enough in the general chaos of the war preparations and the succession for it to be given correctly in the plan. General Prince Leopold II Maximilian von Anhalt-Dessau, who achieved this rank on 7th April 1741, is still listed in his role of "Gen. Lt." (Lieutenant General). This mistake provides further indication that the scroll was made shortly after the battle.
The scroll is split into two parts, covering different aspects of the battle. The left half (circa 110 cm wide), depicts the Prussian battle formation with standards in the regiment colours beside each infantry square. Grenadier battalions are indicated by burning grenades. Each of the regiments and battalions are labelled in red, and their commanders are depicted in detailed portrait miniatures on horseback measuring around 4 x 5 cm.
The following participants are listed:
Frederick II and Field Marshal Kurt Christoph Count von Schwerin at the fore.
Oberst (Colonel) Carl Friedrich von Posadowsky (labelled as Major General) on the left wing.
First encounter: Lieutenant General Christoph Wilhelm von Kalckstein, Major General Joachim Christoph von Jeetze, Lieutenant General Heinrich Karl von der Marwitz, Major General Prince Dietrich von Anhalt-Dessau, Major General Margrave Karl Friedrich Albrecht von Brandenburg-Schwedt.
Right wing: Major General von Kleist, Lieutenant General Count Adolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg (here listed as Major General).
Second encounter: Major General von Bredow, General Prince Leopold II Maximilian von Anhalt-Dessau (here listed as Lieutenant General), Major General Prince Heinrich.
The right half of the scroll measures 64 cm in length and shows the Prussian and Austrian battle formation. The depiction of the location is reduced to a few coloured views of the surrounding towns and villages, including Mollwitz (now the Polish town of Malujowice), Hünern, the burning Pampitz, Grüningen, Brieg fortress on the Oder, and Hermsdorf. The panoramas are around 10 - 20 cm wide, up to 15 cm high, and exceedingly detailed.
Alongside its decorative appeal, the scroll represents an exceptional homage to the King by an unknown artist, depicting Prussia's first, admittedly hard-fought, victory in the First Silesian War. The work's monumentality, opulent colouring, and copious detail give an impression of the importance of this battle to contemporary viewers and illustrate the media reception of the event in the 18th century. “The battle cry was heard throughout Europe. A new military power had been born; … a new hour had been struck, … a new era had begun” (Carlyle: Friedrich der Große, 1928, vol. 3, p. 225 f.).
Following the break with the Pragmatic Sanction and the occupation of Silesia, Frederick II was faced by an alliance between England, Russia, Holland, Saxony, and Austria in the spring of 1741. The King was unable to defend his widely strewn territories and was forced to concentrate on his heartland and the recently acquired region of Silesia. When the Austrians began their assault much earlier than anticipated, Frederick had to move quickly to avoid the worst. In order to prevent the Austrians from crossing the Oder, he rushed into battle with a hastily organised army. The forces met near Mollwitz on 10th April 1741.
The Austrian host of 16,600 men was up against a much stronger Prussian force of 23,400. However, the Prussians were unable to form properly in the country around Mollwitz. Wrongly indicated lines of approach caused the infantry to bunch up, the left wing lagged behind, and Frederick took the exposed grenadier battalion to the right wing. The outcome of the battle proved this to be a wise decision, and it was the birth of the famous “crooked battle formation”.
At first, the Austrian cavalry was able to break that of the Prussians. The King would later remark, “the cavalry is so wretched, not even the devil would take it.” General Schwerin tried to convince Frederick to leave the field, believing the battle to be lost, but his unerringly disciplined infantry advance soon caused the tides to turn. Frederick gave very clear instructions on this point, “If a soldier should seek to flee during the encounter, moving even one foot broad out of the line, the sergeant standing behind him is instructed to impale him with bayonet and kill him.”
The Austrian cavalry was finally compelled to retreat, with their severely outgunned forces standing against the highly drilled Prussian “war machine”. An Austrian officer would later recall, “I tell you, I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life. They marched with such composure and in such perfect rank and file, as if they were still on the parade ground. The polished guns shone in the sunlight, and their fire was like a constant peal of thunder. Our forces completely lost their morale.”
Even though the Battle of Mollwitz on 10th April 1741 brought no military advantages for Frederick, and the Prussian losses were higher than those of the defeated Austrians, the battle brought considerable prestige for the Prussian army and the young King. Alone the discipline and clout of the salvos, fired by the Prussian ranks at the rate of around one volley every 12 seconds, brought the fear of doubt into the hearts of the tactically superior Austrians, forcing their retreat. The hard-won victory was later glorified in legend, even by historians such as Ranke, “The significance of the Battle of Mollwitz was felt so strongly, whilst the battle still raged, the children in the city streets went down on their knees to pray for the victory of the Prussian King” (Leopold von Ranke, Sämtliche Werke, 1874, vol. 11, p. 436.)
This monumental panorama of the battle is an impressive example of how early in his career the veneration of King Frederick began. The fact that his lack of experience led him to commit major tactical errors, such as the late attack caused by a tedious textbook deployment, was soon forgotten. The fact that Frederick had the cold-bloodedness of General Schwerin and his father's incessantly drilled and exercised infantry to thank for retaining the previously occupied Silesia and the decisive victory in the First Silesian War was also rapidly supressed. “As the reader notices, Mollwitz was a routine, planned-out, and solemn affair; carried out according to established rules and methods with orthodox precision in a slow, deliberate, almost pedantic, but inevitable manner. It was the triumph of Prussian discipline (and) the stalwart application of military orthodoxy” (Carlyle, ibid., p. 227).
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Panorama "Plan der Bataille von Molwitz"
Sepia ink, red ink, ink and watercolours on two connected sheets. Horizonal rolled battle plan, labelled "PLAN der BATAILLE von MOLWITZ so den 10.ten April Anno. 1741 vorgefallen mit der Oestereichschen Armee." Detailed and finely coloured gouches: 13 portraits of generals on horseback (ca. 4 x 5 cm); depiction of the Prussian formation with coloured standards, cannon, and wagons; 6 coloured views of the surrounding villages and the fortress, and a small schematic plan of the Prussian and Austrian battle array. Inscribed on the reverse in the outer right edge "Bataille de Molwitz". Watermarked. A backed vertical restoration, restorations to the lower left edge and several restored and unrestored tears to the margins, yellowed. H 36, W 90.4 cm and H 36, W 92.5 cm. In a gilt embossed blue leather case.
1741
This scroll, which appears to have a commemorative function, was made after the victory at Mollwitz, probably for a high-ranking officer or perhaps even as a gift for the King himself. Several irregularities in the officer's rank designations indicate that the piece was made some time around the middle of the year 1741. Three officers are labelled with ranks, which they either did not yet, or no longer, held at the time of the battle. For example, Oberst (Colonel) Carl Friedrich von Posadowsky is labelled as “Gen. Maj.” (Major General). Since he only achieved this rank on 4th June 1741, we can assume that the scroll was made some time after this date. Generallieutenant (Lieutenant General) Count Adolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg, who received this rank in early December 1740, is listed with his previous rank of Major General. News of his promotion apparently did not circulate quickly enough in the general chaos of the war preparations and the succession for it to be given correctly in the plan. General Prince Leopold II Maximilian von Anhalt-Dessau, who achieved this rank on 7th April 1741, is still listed in his role of "Gen. Lt." (Lieutenant General). This mistake provides further indication that the scroll was made shortly after the battle.
The scroll is split into two parts, covering different aspects of the battle. The left half (circa 110 cm wide), depicts the Prussian battle formation with standards in the regiment colours beside each infantry square. Grenadier battalions are indicated by burning grenades. Each of the regiments and battalions are labelled in red, and their commanders are depicted in detailed portrait miniatures on horseback measuring around 4 x 5 cm.
The following participants are listed:
Frederick II and Field Marshal Kurt Christoph Count von Schwerin at the fore.
Oberst (Colonel) Carl Friedrich von Posadowsky (labelled as Major General) on the left wing.
First encounter: Lieutenant General Christoph Wilhelm von Kalckstein, Major General Joachim Christoph von Jeetze, Lieutenant General Heinrich Karl von der Marwitz, Major General Prince Dietrich von Anhalt-Dessau, Major General Margrave Karl Friedrich Albrecht von Brandenburg-Schwedt.
Right wing: Major General von Kleist, Lieutenant General Count Adolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg (here listed as Major General).
Second encounter: Major General von Bredow, General Prince Leopold II Maximilian von Anhalt-Dessau (here listed as Lieutenant General), Major General Prince Heinrich.
The right half of the scroll measures 64 cm in length and shows the Prussian and Austrian battle formation. The depiction of the location is reduced to a few coloured views of the surrounding towns and villages, including Mollwitz (now the Polish town of Malujowice), Hünern, the burning Pampitz, Grüningen, Brieg fortress on the Oder, and Hermsdorf. The panoramas are around 10 - 20 cm wide, up to 15 cm high, and exceedingly detailed.
Alongside its decorative appeal, the scroll represents an exceptional homage to the King by an unknown artist, depicting Prussia's first, admittedly hard-fought, victory in the First Silesian War. The work's monumentality, opulent colouring, and copious detail give an impression of the importance of this battle to contemporary viewers and illustrate the media reception of the event in the 18th century. “The battle cry was heard throughout Europe. A new military power had been born; … a new hour had been struck, … a new era had begun” (Carlyle: Friedrich der Große, 1928, vol. 3, p. 225 f.).
Following the break with the Pragmatic Sanction and the occupation of Silesia, Frederick II was faced by an alliance between England, Russia, Holland, Saxony, and Austria in the spring of 1741. The King was unable to defend his widely strewn territories and was forced to concentrate on his heartland and the recently acquired region of Silesia. When the Austrians began their assault much earlier than anticipated, Frederick had to move quickly to avoid the worst. In order to prevent the Austrians from crossing the Oder, he rushed into battle with a hastily organised army. The forces met near Mollwitz on 10th April 1741.
The Austrian host of 16,600 men was up against a much stronger Prussian force of 23,400. However, the Prussians were unable to form properly in the country around Mollwitz. Wrongly indicated lines of approach caused the infantry to bunch up, the left wing lagged behind, and Frederick took the exposed grenadier battalion to the right wing. The outcome of the battle proved this to be a wise decision, and it was the birth of the famous “crooked battle formation”.
At first, the Austrian cavalry was able to break that of the Prussians. The King would later remark, “the cavalry is so wretched, not even the devil would take it.” General Schwerin tried to convince Frederick to leave the field, believing the battle to be lost, but his unerringly disciplined infantry advance soon caused the tides to turn. Frederick gave very clear instructions on this point, “If a soldier should seek to flee during the encounter, moving even one foot broad out of the line, the sergeant standing behind him is instructed to impale him with bayonet and kill him.”
The Austrian cavalry was finally compelled to retreat, with their severely outgunned forces standing against the highly drilled Prussian “war machine”. An Austrian officer would later recall, “I tell you, I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life. They marched with such composure and in such perfect rank and file, as if they were still on the parade ground. The polished guns shone in the sunlight, and their fire was like a constant peal of thunder. Our forces completely lost their morale.”
Even though the Battle of Mollwitz on 10th April 1741 brought no military advantages for Frederick, and the Prussian losses were higher than those of the defeated Austrians, the battle brought considerable prestige for the Prussian army and the young King. Alone the discipline and clout of the salvos, fired by the Prussian ranks at the rate of around one volley every 12 seconds, brought the fear of doubt into the hearts of the tactically superior Austrians, forcing their retreat. The hard-won victory was later glorified in legend, even by historians such as Ranke, “The significance of the Battle of Mollwitz was felt so strongly, whilst the battle still raged, the children in the city streets went down on their knees to pray for the victory of the Prussian King” (Leopold von Ranke, Sämtliche Werke, 1874, vol. 11, p. 436.)
This monumental panorama of the battle is an impressive example of how early in his career the veneration of King Frederick began. The fact that his lack of experience led him to commit major tactical errors, such as the late attack caused by a tedious textbook deployment, was soon forgotten. The fact that Frederick had the cold-bloodedness of General Schwerin and his father's incessantly drilled and exercised infantry to thank for retaining the previously occupied Silesia and the decisive victory in the First Silesian War was also rapidly supressed. “As the reader notices, Mollwitz was a routine, planned-out, and solemn affair; carried out according to established rules and methods with orthodox precision in a slow, deliberate, almost pedantic, but inevitable manner. It was the triumph of Prussian discipline (and) the stalwart application of military orthodoxy” (Carlyle, ibid., p. 227).
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