Artwork
Portrait of Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, Queen of Sweden

Portrait of Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, Queen of Sweden is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The work is an oil painting portraying Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, who reigned as queen of Sweden.
About this work
Overview
The work is an oil painting portraying Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, who reigned as queen of Sweden. She is seated on a chair, dressed in a pale yellow gown with a low neckline and dark buttons, her hair neatly pulled back. A small crown rests in her left hand, and the dark, indistinct background concentrates attention on the sitter.
Subject & Meaning
The presence of the crown identifies the figure as royalty, emphasizing her status as sovereign. The composed expression, softened lighting on the face, and the calm posture convey a sense of dignified authority, reflecting the queen’s role and the ideals of monarchical representation in the early eighteenth century.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between illuminated areas and deep shadows to model the figure’s form. The soft light falls on the queen’s face and gown, while the background recedes into darkness, creating a three‑dimensional effect and focusing the viewer’s eye on the regal attributes.
History & Provenance
Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait was likely commissioned during Ulrika Eleonora’s reign (1718–1720) to commemorate her accession. The painting has remained within Swedish royal collections, later entering public museum holdings where it serves as a visual record of the queen’s brief tenure.
Artist & collection



















