Who painted Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj?

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj was painted by David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl in 1692-01-01.

Where can I see Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj?

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj is held by Nationalmuseum.

What movement is Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj?

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj

David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl , 1696

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Charles XI of Sweden enthroned at the center, flanked by family members arranged in a hierarchical composition that underscores dynastic continuity and royal authority. His consort Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp and their children, including the future Charles XII and Ulrika Eleonora, are shown in formal attire, signaling legitimate succession and courtly ideals of lineage and power. The inclusion of Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark and Frederick IV, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, alongside Swedish princesses and princes, reflects diplomatic alliances and the political networks of the Swedish royal house in the late seventeenth century.

Technique & Style

The work measures 282 cm in height and 262 cm in width, presenting a monumental composition typical of royal imagery from the period.

Executed in 1692, this large-scale group portrait is rendered in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 282 cm in height and 262 cm in width, presenting a monumental composition typical of royal imagery from the period. As a formal portrait, the piece depicts King Charles XI of Sweden alongside his family members, utilizing the medium to capture the likenesses of multiple figures within a single unified space.

The application of oil allows for the detailed representation of the subjects, including Queen Hedvig Eleonora and their children, arranged to emphasize dynastic continuity.

Context

David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl's 1692 oil portrait of Swedish King Charles XI with his family exemplifies Northern Baroque portraiture, blending regal symbolism with intimate dynastic representation. The work reflects the cultural emphasis on royal lineage and statecraft in late 17th-century Sweden, aligning with contemporary artistic trends in European court portraiture. Its composition and execution underscore Ehrenstrahl's role in shaping Swedish visual identity during the reign of Charles XI, situating the painting within broader European portrait traditions of the era.

Overview

Karl XI konung av Sverige med familj is a 1696 oil painting by David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, depicting a formal family gathering of nine individuals, including royalty, accompanied by two small white dogs.

History & Provenance

Created in 1696, the painting is part of the collection at the Nationalmuseum in Sweden.