The Legend of a Queen

On the threshold of the modern age, the myth of the Prussian Queen Luise (1776–1810) first originated through media-related means by the combination of femininity, beauty and power. The 200th anniversary of the death of the most popular woman in Prussia in 2010 is providing theStiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin (Germany) with an opportunity to trace one of the most obstinate legends of German history. The exhibition is dedicated to various facets of Luise. Her beauty and grace, her naturalness and her harmonious family life turned her into a legend within her own lifetime. Her efforts towards decisive political reforms and her opposition to Napoleon made her into a symbol of hope during Prussia’s “difficult period” at the beginning of the 19th century. More than 200 paintings, sculptures and historical documents, including masterpieces by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Johann Gottfried Schadow and Christian Daniel Rauch, invite visitors to become more familiar with the life and legacy of the queen.