And what conclusion did Bielfeld arrive at, one may ask? :)
Along the lines of what you summarize as fashionable coloring for his day, regular features, and enough force of personality and charm to make an impression, even though I don't think anyone's ever convincingly called him good-looking.
"He is not of a remarkable stature, and would not have been chosen to have ruled in the place of Saul, but when we consider the strength and beauty of his genius, we cannot but desire, for the prosperity of the people, to see him fill the throne of Prussia. His features are highly pleasing, with a sprightly look and a noble air, and it depends altogether on himself to appear perfectly engaging. A petit maître of Paris would not perhaps admire his frisure; his hair however is of a bright brown, carelessly curled, but well adapted to his countenance. His large blue eyes have at once something severe, soft, and gracious. I was surprised to find in him so youthful an air. His behavior in every respect, is that of a person of exalted rank, and he is the most polite man in all that kingdom over which he is born to rule."
"His features are highly pleasing" I am taking to mean "regular enough, not strikingly good looking, well fed*, and it barely matters because he has charisma."
* Aside from when his father was starving him, all descriptions of Fritz I've seen, including from his own mouth, have him on the plump side.
Alas, I fear it was the later.
Alas, I'm inclined to agree. Also, let's not forget Fritz's Very Important Historical Claim to Silesia! Obviously MT is in the wrong here. :P
Re: What the Prussian Ambassador Wrote
Along the lines of what you summarize as fashionable coloring for his day, regular features, and enough force of personality and charm to make an impression, even though I don't think anyone's ever convincingly called him good-looking.
"He is not of a remarkable stature, and would not have been chosen to have ruled in the place of Saul, but when we consider the strength and beauty of his genius, we cannot but desire, for the prosperity of the people, to see him fill the throne of Prussia. His features are highly pleasing, with a sprightly look and a noble air, and it depends altogether on himself to appear perfectly engaging. A petit maître of Paris would not perhaps admire his frisure; his hair however is of a bright brown, carelessly curled, but well adapted to his countenance. His large blue eyes have at once something severe, soft, and gracious. I was surprised to find in him so youthful an air. His behavior in every respect, is that of a person of exalted rank, and he is the most polite man in all that kingdom over which he is born to rule."
"His features are highly pleasing" I am taking to mean "regular enough, not strikingly good looking, well fed*, and it barely matters because he has charisma."
* Aside from when his father was starving him, all descriptions of Fritz I've seen, including from his own mouth, have him on the plump side.
Alas, I fear it was the later.
Alas, I'm inclined to agree. Also, let's not forget Fritz's Very Important Historical Claim to Silesia! Obviously MT is in the wrong here. :P