Who painted Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait?

Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait was painted by Wilhelm Andreas Müller in 1783.

Where can I see Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait?

Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait

Ivan III or Ivan VI Antonovich. Full-length Portrait is an oil painting by Wilhelm Andreas Müller. It dates from 1783 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Wilhelm Andreas Müller’s full-length portrait, dated around 1783, presents a young boy in regal attire. Executed on a copper support, the work measures a modest size yet commands attention through its detailed rendering. Currently, the painting is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed among the museum’s 18th‑century European holdings.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a blond‑haired child dressed in an elaborate brown and gold robe, accented with a red‑white collar and a blue sash. He stands before a table bearing a scepter, a crown, and a red cloth, symbols that evoke royal authority. The composition suggests an intention to convey the boy’s noble status or a ceremonial role, emphasizing dignity and future potential.

Technique & Style

Müller employed the smooth, reflective surface of copper to achieve fine detail and luminous color. Warm earth tones dominate the robe, while the blue sash and green curtain provide contrasting accents. The artist’s handling of light creates subtle gradations on the fabric and metal objects, reflecting the late‑Baroque sensibility that favored rich textures and a controlled, dignified pose.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1780s, the portrait entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century, though the exact path of ownership prior to that remains undocumented. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s commitment to preserving works that illustrate courtly portraiture and the technical experiments of the period.