It depicts Frederick the Great, King of Prussia playing the flute at an evening concert at Sanssouci and is now in the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Sanssouci (meaning Free of Care), was Frederick's summer palace at Potsdam, near Berlin.

However, the monarch’s features represented in the painting are highly idealized as Menzel avoids showing Frederick with his aquiline nose,[2] although he must have known the death mask[3] of the Prussian king.

[4] In front of Frederick sits his chamber ensemble and to his rear an audience of dignitaries and noble ladies.

The focus of the work is not on the music but rather on Frederick and the ambience created by the interior design, the furniture, the chandelier and candlelight and the ladies' elaborate dresses.