Editing Frederick, Prince of Wales (section)

==Patron of the arts==
A permanent result of Frederick's patronage of the arts is "[[Rule, Britannia!]]", one of the best-known British patriotic songs. It was composed by the English composer [[Thomas Arne]] with words written by the Scottish poet and playwright [[James Thomson (poet, born 1700)|James Thomson]] as part of the [[masque]] ''[[Alfred (Arne opera)|Alfred]]'', which was first performed on 1 August 1740 at [[Cliveden]]. Thomas Arne was also one of Frederick's favourite artists. A masque linking the prince with both the Saxon hero-king [[Alfred the Great]]'s victories over the [[Vikings]] and with the contemporary issue of building up British [[sea power]] accorded well with Frederick's political plans and aspirations. Later, the song gained a life of its own outside of the masque. Thomson, who supported the Prince of Wales politically, also dedicated an earlier work dedicated to him: ''Liberty'' (1734). 
[[File:Giltwood Frame by Paul Petit for Frederick, Prince of Wales.jpg|thumb|A Royal Giltwood Frame of Colossal Scale by Paul Petit made at the command of Frederick, Prince of Wales to contain a portrait of [[Frederick the Great]] by [[Antoine Pesne]] (1683–1757). Collection of Carlton Hobbs LLC.]]
Unlike the king, Frederick was a knowledgeable amateur of painting, patronising immigrant artists such as [[Jacopo Amigoni]] and [[Jean-Baptiste van Loo]], who painted the portraits of the prince and his consort for Frederick's champion [[William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath]]. The list of other artists whom he employed—[[Philippe Mercier]], [[John Wootton]], [[George Knapton]], and the engraver [[Joseph Goupy]]—includes some of the principal painters of the English [[Rococo]]. The prince was also crucially important in furthering the popularity of the Rococo style in the decorative arts, with a clear predilection for French [[Huguenot]] craftsmen. He patronised silversmiths such as Nicolas Sprimont (1713–1771), "toyshop" owners such as Paul Bertrand, and also carvers and gilders. The most notable of the latter was Paul Petit (1729–c. 1756) who first worked for the prince on [[William Kent]]'s [[Palladian architecture|neo-Palladian]] [[Prince Frederick's Barge|state barge of 1732]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=William Kent and the Royal Barge.|last=Beard|first=Geoffrey|publisher=The Burlington Magazine , Vol. 112, No. 809, pp 488-493+495.|date=August 1970|pages=492}}</ref> which is still preserved in the [[National Maritime Museum]]. Petit worked on a handful of magnificent trophy frames in the Rococo style for Frederick, which are among the most significant remaining testaments to the prince's patronage of the decorative arts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://carltonhobbs.com/portfolio-items/a-royal-giltwood-frame-of-colossal-scale-by-paul-petit-at-the-command-of-frederick-prince-of-wales-to-contain-a-portrait-of-frederick-the-great-by-antoine-pesne-1683-1757/ |title=9880{{snd}}A ROYAL GILTWOOD FRAME OF COLOSSAL SCALE BY PAUL PETIT AT THE COMMAND OF FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES {{!}} Carlton Hobbs New York |website=carltonhobbs.com |access-date=4 April 2016 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417082334/http://carltonhobbs.com/portfolio-items/a-royal-giltwood-frame-of-colossal-scale-by-paul-petit-at-the-command-of-frederick-prince-of-wales-to-contain-a-portrait-of-frederick-the-great-by-antoine-pesne-1683-1757/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> One frame, made in 1748 for his namesake cousin [[Frederick the Great]] of Prussia, was especially lavish and represented the esteem in which the prince held his cousin. This suggests the prince identified with Frederick the Great's style of enlightened rule, more than that of his own father George II. Petit's frame contained a portrait of Frederick the Great painted by [[Antoine Pesne]], and remains today in the [[Royal Collection|British Royal Collection]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/search#/41/collection/406797/frederick-ii-king-of-prussia-1712-86 |title=Antoine Pesne (1683–1757): Frederick II, King of Prussia (1712–86) 1747{{snd}}1748 |website=Royal Collection |access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref>

None of Frederick's homes are now left standing except for the country residence of [[Cliveden]], which is in a much altered state. His London residences ([[Norfolk House]], [[Carlton House]], [[Leicester House, Westminster|Leicester House]], and [[Kew Palace#George II's children|Kew House or the White House]]) have all been demolished.