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Portrait of Carl XI

Unknown

1650

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of Carl XI is a 1650 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1650
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This painting shows a man in fancy armor and a dark cloak, standing against a shadowy background. His left hand rests on a lion’s head at his feet, while his right hand holds something small—maybe a glove or a ring. The armor looks heavy and detailed, with shiny metal and soft fabric folds. The dark background makes the man stand out, almost like he’s lit from behind. That’s a trick artists use to draw attention to the person. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting effect works.