King Frederick William I. visits a Building site at Berlin, 1735

The serie shows a building-inspection by King Frederick William I. at Berlin-Friedrichstadt. Serie with workers, architects and street-vendors.
"Guy has money! Guy should build!" During the reign of King Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713-1740) that was a fixed phrase.
Friedrich Wilhelm I lived almost bourgeois modestly. His amusements were hunting, the sight of his "dear blue children", whom he cared for so that he was called the "soldier king", and the rough men's jokes of the well-known tobacco college. The "big plus maker" foregone pompous court and splendid buildings and saved wherever he could, so that he could leave his son Friedrich with orderly finances and a well-stocked state treasury.
However, when it was a matter of promoting handicrafts and trades and increasing the general prosperity of his country, the king spared no expense.
With tireless zeal, he pushed ahead with building houses. Berlin's population rose from 60,000 to 90,000 during this period. This king contributed a lot to the expansion and beautification of the city of Berlin. build the town hall, the Charité buildings and the cadet and orphanage. The Dutch Quarter was built on his orders in nearby Potsdam.
Our series shows the soldier king on a site inspection (e.g. in Berlin's Friedrichstadt or in the Dutch Quarter in Potsdam) with architects and clients. Since the restless king does not tolerate idleness among his subjects and also quickly intervenes with the stick, the craftsmen continue to work diligently despite the high number of visitors. Wives who bring their husbands lunch to the construction site and street vendors complete the picture. By exchanging the main figure, any construction site in Europe can be represented in the 18th century.
Engraving: E. Kovar, drawing: K. Heinrichs

Series list for 100/125
No. 100-1170 (1x) Builder with drawing
No. 100-77 a (1x) Riding boots, two pairs
No. 100-1086 (2x) Wooden ladder, standing upright
No. 100-1171 (1x) King Friedr. Wilhelm I. with builder, looking at drawing
No. 100-216 a (1x) Wooden box, open
No. 100-1163 (1x) Worker, carrying stones
No. 100-1172 (1x) Architect with drawing
No. 100-217 a (1x) Wooden box, opened
No. 100-1164 (1x) Worker, mixing mortar
No. 100-1173 (1x) Worker's wife with child
No. 100-218 a (1x) Wooden box, opened, lid ajar
No. 100-1165 (1x) Worker, brushing stones with mortar
No. 100-1174 (1x) Woman selling apples
No. 100-1166 (1x) Worker, leaning on shovel, wiping sweat from forehead
No. 100-1175 (1x) Woman selling soup
No. 100-1167 (1x) Worker, carrying sand, and pile of sand
No. 100-1176 (1x) Sausage seller
No. 100-1168 (1x) Architect's assistant, looking for a drawing
No. 100-1177 (1x) Worker's wife, pregnant, with child and dog, bringing food
No. 100-1169 (1x) Worker, with measuring stick and book
No. 100-1178 (1x) Water woman with carrying harness
No. 100-1071 (2x) Hay poles (3), ajar