Artwork

Portrait of Frederik Hansen de Liliendal, Danish Consul at Bordeaux

Portrait of Frederik Hansen de Liliendal, Danish Consul at Bordeaux is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work is a mid‑18th‑century oil portrait depicting Frederik Hansen de Liliendal, who served as the Danish consul in Bordeaux.

About this work

Overview

The work is a mid‑18th‑century oil portrait depicting Frederik Hansen de Liliendal, who served as the Danish consul in Bordeaux. Executed around 1750, the painting is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition centers on the sitter, whose dignified pose and attire convey his official status.

Subject & Meaning

Frederik Hansen de Liliendal appears as an elderly gentleman dressed in a dark red coat trimmed with lace, his powdered white wig styled in curls. His hand rests upon his chest, a gesture traditionally associated with personal honor or civic responsibility, while his solemn expression underscores the gravitas of his consular role.

Technique & Style

The artist employs a restrained palette and a dark, unadorned backdrop that isolates the figure, allowing subtle modeling of flesh and fabric to dominate. Light falls across the face and coat, creating a modest chiaroscuro effect that enhances the three‑dimensionality of the portrait without elaborate decorative elements.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the painter known as 1717_person, the portrait was likely commissioned in the 1750s to commemorate de Liliendal’s diplomatic service. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains displayed as a representative example of diplomatic portraiture from the period.