Who painted Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife?

Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife was painted by Jens Juel in 1791.

Where can I see Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife?

Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife?

Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife

Jens Juel , 1791

Portrait of Colonel Jean-Jacques Gautier and His Wife is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jens Juel. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Jens Juel, a prominent Danish portraitist of the late 1700s, painted the double portrait of Colonel Jean‑Jacques Gautier and his wife in 1791. Executed in oil on canvas, the work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst and exemplifies the Rococo style that Juel frequently employed in his court commissions.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents the colonel and his spouse within an interior space. The woman is seated, holding a small dog, while the colonel stands beside her, leaning on the back of a chair. Their attire—her light dress and elaborate feather‑and‑flower hat, his dark, buttoned jacket—signals their social rank and the conventions of genteel portraiture.

Technique & Style

Juel’s handling of oil paint reflects the Rococo’s delicate modeling and subtle chiaroscuro, with a dark, muted backdrop that isolates the figures. The rendering of fabrics, the soft sheen of the woman’s hat, and the fine details of the dog demonstrate the artist’s skill in texture and his attention to the elegance of his subjects.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the portrait entered the Danish royal collection and was displayed at Frederiksborg Castle, where many of Juel’s works were exhibited. It later transferred to the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains in the museum’s permanent holdings.

Context

Created near the end of Juel’s career, the painting reflects the late Rococo taste still prevalent among the Danish aristocracy, even as neoclassical trends were emerging elsewhere in Europe. The inclusion of a pet and the informal pose suggest a move toward more intimate, personal representation within formal portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jens Juel

Jens Juel (12 May 1745 – 27 December 1802) was a Danish painter, primarily known for his many portraits, of which the largest collection is on display at Frederiksborg Castle.