Portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II

Walter Schott (1861-1938)
19th century, White marble

This work depicts Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Prussia (1859-1941). The son of Prince Frederick of Prussia and his wife Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a royal princess of the United Kingdom, Wilhelm II was the third and last German emperor, and ninth and last king of Prussia, having remained on the throne with both titles from 1888 to 1918. The solemn portrait, made by Walter Schott, whose signature appears on the right side, has on the front at the base the inscription: WILHEM/ DER ZWEITE/ DEUTSCHER KAISER KOENING VON PREUSSEN. The details are perfect and the execution proves to be of the highest workmanship: the emperor wears the uniform of which he was most proud, the military uniform of an admiral, clutching the staff of command in his right hand. An ample drapery wraps his shoulders and hides his left arm concealing the slight anomaly inherent since birth due to a breech birth, while his neck is adorned by the presence of the typical necklace of the Order of the Black Eagle. The necklace consists of a cross surrounded by black eagles, hung with a ribbon that from the left shoulder passes under the right arm. Knights belonging to this order wear on the front of their dress similarly identifiable with a large silver embroidered cross.