Emperor Frederick of Barbarossa has appeared in German stories for centuries.  He supposedly awakens from his sleep in a mountain in central Germany every hundred years to see if Germany needs his help as a leader.  This work was originally intended for the palace of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig I from 1835 to 1837.  Prince Ludwig I wanted the scene to depict the glorious history of Germany in a strictly factual way.  However, Julius Veit Hans Schnorr von Carolsfeld (the artist) chose to paint details such as the sword, crown, and chalice that communicated ideas about politics and religion.  Since the story of Emperor Barbarossa is so popular in German history and literature, the artist represents characteristics of the Emperor to be the same as those of Germany itself.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Based on the painting, what character traits do you think Emperor Barbarossa has?  What elements of the painting communicate his character?
• Look at the background of the painting.  Where is the scene set?  Does it follow along with the story?
• Notice the colors that the artist used and the frame that the painting is in.  What ideas come to mind?  Does it look luxurious or simple?

Third Artwork