Artwork
Portrait of Queen Sophie-Magdalene
Portrait of Queen Sophie-Magdalene is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Lorens Pasch the Younger. It dates from 1773 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These elements collectively represent her role as a reigning queen, combining personal likeness with the abstract concepts of state leadership and divine right.
The painting depicts Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, who served as the Queen of Sweden. Created in 1773 by Lorens Pasch the Younger, the work functions as a formal royal portrait emphasizing sovereign authority through specific regalia. The subject is shown wearing a royal mantle and a tiara, visually establishing her high status within the monarchy.
Her iconography includes the holding of an orb and the presence of a crown, traditional symbols of Christian monarchy and temporal power. These elements collectively represent her role as a reigning queen, combining personal likeness with the abstract concepts of state leadership and divine right. The inclusion of these specific attributes transforms the image from a mere likeness into a statement of political legitimacy and royal dignity.
Technique & Style
The portrait depicts Queen Sophie-Magdalene in regal attire, featuring a royal mantle, crown, orb, and tiara. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 243 cm by 179.3 cm and was created in Sweden in 1773. It is classified as a portrait and exemplifies formal compositional balance and restrained stylistic treatment characteristic of mid-18th-century Swedish portraiture.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Queen Sophie-Magdalene was commissioned as a formal representation of the Danish queen consort and executed in 1773 by Swedish artist Lorens Pasch the Younger. It was painted in Sweden and depicts Sophia Magdalena of Denmark wearing royal mantle, crown, orb, and tiara. The work is an oil on canvas measuring 243 cm by 179.3 cm and belongs to the portrait genre. Following its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display.
The composition shows the queen in full regalia, emphasizing her status within the Danish court. Its creation history is tied to Pasch’s role as a court painter, and the work is dated precisely to the year 1773 based on archival records.
The painting’s provenance is documented through its acquisition by the Hermitage Museum, establishing a clear ownership chain from the artist to the institution.
Overview
Created in 1773, this oil portrait by Lorens Pasch the Younger presents Sophia Magdalena of Denmark in a formal setting. The queen is shown wearing a silver gown richly embroidered with lace, a high‑styled hairdo crowned with a tiara, and a necklace and earrings. A throne‑like chair and a gilded mirror form the background, emphasizing the regal atmosphere.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lorens Pasch the Younger (1733–1805) was an artist, born in Stockholm.
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