Elisabeth (Lisa) de la Calmette, f. baronesse Iselin

The artist employs a muted chiaroscuro, using gradual tonal shifts to render the face in three dimensions while the surrounding darkness isolates the figure. Brushwork is smooth and controlled, characteristic of the Biedermeier aesthetic that favored clarity, precise detail, and a restrained palette over dramatic Baroque excess.

Attributed to Jens Juel, Denmark’s pre‑eminent portraitist of the late eighteenth century, the painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Juel’s extensive body of portraiture, much of which is displayed at Frederiksborg Castle, includes this work as part of his later output, dated to 1831 according to museum records.

Created during a period of relative political stability in Denmark, the portrait reflects the Biedermeier focus on domestic virtue and the emerging middle‑class values. The subdued composition and lack of overt allegorical elements align with contemporary tastes for personal representation rather than grand historical narrative.