Frederik Willem, hertog van Brunswijk-Wolfenbüttel op zijn sterfbed 1815 - 1866

Willem Grebner captured Frederik Willem, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, on his deathbed in this print. Note how the Duke's lifeless body, with its hands clasped, contrasts sharply with his discarded military attire, evoking a sense of profound stillness and the end of earthly struggles. This composition echoes the visual language of earlier Christian iconography depicting the recumbent Christ, or even a saint in repose. Consider the recurring motif of the prone figure in art history—from ancient effigies to Renaissance depictions of death—and the way it signifies not just mortality, but also a transition to another state. The Duke's relaxed posture, set against the backdrop of his abandoned military garments, stirs a potent mix of sorrow and respect, suggesting a connection between personal loss and collective memory. The image, therefore, transcends its immediate subject to touch upon universal themes of death, legacy, and the emotional weight of history.