Fürstenzug, or Procession of Princes, is a large, public mural showing the rulers of Saxony from Conrad, Margrave of Miessen (1127-1156) through King George of Saxony (1902-1904). The original painting was replaced with Meissen porcelain to make it weatherproof. At 335ft/102m long, composed of an estimated 23,000 tiles, it is the world’s largest porcelain artwork.
The mural emphasized how little of non-Prussian/non-Hohenzollern history I know. Saxony ended as a constituent state within the German Empire until King Frederick Augustus III abdicated (or was overthrown) after World War I. Though the borders and alliances changed over the centuries, Saxony existed for over a millennium as an independent duchy, electorate, and kingdom before becoming a state within modern Germany.
Unlike some of the smaller, poorer German states, such as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Saxony was large and, apparently, decently wealthy, if the art and porcelain in the Zwinger museums is any indication.
The mural overwhelms you in different ways -its length and size, the rules and animals, the historical context – but the overall quality and detail is probably the most impressive. The mural comes across as an ink-drawn painting on colored paper, but then you realize it’s porcelain …. wow! Somehow the mural sustained only minor damage from the bombings of Dresden at the end of World War II, even as the rest of the city was decimated. Go figure.
[I am curious what restoration has necessary after German reunification, as the ruling communist Socialist Unity Party did not focus on cultural history during its control of East Germany.]
Visiting
The mural is located on Augustusstraße a short walk from Brühlsche Terrasse, so very likely you’ll be in the area.
Though accessible 24×7, I’m pretty sure that viewing with daylight would be more rewarding than whatever street lights there might be. Heck, there may even be nighttime spotlights, still believe a sunny day would be better!
