Adolph Menzel: Flute Concert with king Frederick II the Great of Prussia in Sanssouci (1852)

(Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany)

A nice German history painting by the German artist Adolph Menzel. Pictured here is the king of Prussia Frederick II the Great (1712-1786), standing in the middle with a transverse flute. Accompanying him is Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (son of Johann Sebastian Bach) on the harpsichord. Franz Benda is sitting next to him with a violin.  The other people surrounding them are people from the court. On the right, leaning on the wall to the right is Johann Joachim Quantz, flute teacher, flute maker and composer to Frederick II of Prussia. Frederick was a gifted musician who composed 100 sonatas for the flute as well as four symphonies. Painting from 1852.