Carl Piper, 1647-1716, greve

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a limited palette of deep shadows contrasted with a subtle illumination from the right, creating a three‑dimensional effect. The brushwork is smooth and precise, characteristic of mid‑Baroque portraiture in Northern Europe, where attention to fabric texture and facial detail was paramount.

Created circa 1650, the portrait has remained in Swedish public ownership, eventually entering the Nationalmuseum’s holdings. Its attribution to David Kock, a lesser‑known painter of the period, is based on stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to the Piper family’s patronage.