Johann Gottfried Schadow was a German sculptor born in Berlin, where his father was a poor tailor. His first teacher was the sculptor Jean-Pierre Tassaert, patronized by Frederick the Great. Tassaert offered his daughter in marriage, but the pupil preferred to elope with another girl to Vienna, and Tassaert not only condoned the offence but furnished money to visit Italy. Three years' study in Rome formed Schadow's style, and in 1788 he returned to Berlin to succeed Tassaert as sculptor to the court and secretary to the Academy. Over half a century he produced upwards of two hundred works, varied in style as in subjects.

Among his ambitious efforts are Frederick the Great in Stettin, Blücher in Rostock and Martin L...