Artwork

Hedvig Eleonora, 1636-1715, prinsessa av Holstein-Gottorp, drottning av Sverige

Hedvig Eleonora, 1636-1715, prinsessa av Holstein-Gottorp, drottning av Sverige 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

This oil portrait, executed around 1699, presents Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein‑Gottorp, who was queen consort of Sweden from 1654 to 1660 and later queen dowager. The work is held in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and exemplifies court portraiture of the late seventeenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown seated on a chair, dressed in an opulent costume that combines a white and gold bodice with a dark red skirt patterned with gold floral motifs. The richness of the attire underscores her high rank and the ceremonial role she continued to play after her husband's death.

Technique & Style

The painter employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the figure and give the composition a three‑dimensional presence. A muted brown wall forms the backdrop, while a window on the right opens onto a distant building and trees, adding depth to the interior setting.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created by David von Krafft, a German‑Swedish artist who served as the royal court painter after succeeding his uncle and mentor David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl in 1698. Since its completion, the painting has remained within the Swedish royal collection before entering the Nationalmuseum's holdings.

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.