Who painted Gustav Soop af Limingo?

Gustav Soop af Limingo was painted by David von Krafft in 1699.

Where can I see Gustav Soop af Limingo?

Gustav Soop af Limingo is held by Nationalmuseum.

What movement is Gustav Soop af Limingo?

Gustav Soop af Limingo is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Gustav Soop af Limingo

David von Krafft , 1699

Gustav Soop af Limingo is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist David von Krafft. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1699, this oil-on-canvas portrait shows Gustav Soop af Limingo, a Swedish nobleman, seated in a dark interior. He is dressed in a richly patterned red robe with a white lining, a gold‑trimmed vest, and his long, curled hair frames his face. The composition is dominated by strong contrasts of light and shadow, drawing attention to the figure’s elaborate costume.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Gustav Soop, is presented with the lining of his robe held in his left hand, a gesture that emphasizes his status and the luxurious fabrics he wears. The dark backdrop serves to isolate the figure, highlighting his wealth and the ceremonial nature of the portrait, typical of aristocratic representation in late‑17th‑century Sweden.

Technique & Style

Brushwork is smooth, allowing the satin sheen of the red robe and the intricate gold detailing of the vest to emerge clearly.

The work employs chiaroscuro, using pronounced light‑dark juxtapositions to model the figure’s form and texture. Brushwork is smooth, allowing the satin sheen of the red robe and the intricate gold detailing of the vest to emerge clearly. Although painted during the early Rococo period, the portrait retains a restrained elegance rather than the exuberant ornamentation later associated with the style.

History & Provenance

German‑Swedish artist David von Krafft, a pupil of his uncle David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, executed the painting shortly after assuming the position of court painter to the Swedish royal family in 1698. The portrait entered the collection of Sweden’s Nationalmuseum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of late‑Baroque and early Rococo court portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

David von Krafft

David Krafft, from 1719 David von Krafft (1655 – 20 September 1724), was a German-Swedish painter, the nephew and student of David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl and his successor (in 1698) as painter to the Swedish Royal Court.