Artwork
Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Martin van Meytens. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about this style of portraiture, you might want to look up the artist Martin van Meytens.
This painting is a portrait of a woman, likely from the 18th century. She is dressed in an elaborate gown with lace and jewels, and wears a crown on her head. Her hair is styled in an updo, and she looks directly at the viewer.
The woman's face is painted with soft, gentle features, and her expression is calm and serene. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to highlight the subject's face and clothing. The overall effect is one of elegance and refinement.
If you're interested in learning more about this style of portraiture, you might want to look up the artist Martin van Meytens.
Subject & Meaning
The work is a portrait that depicts Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel as its main subject. Created by Martin van Meytens in 1740, the painting serves as a formal representation of the figure, capturing her likeness in oil on canvas. As a genre portrait, the piece focuses on the individual identity and presence of Elisabeth Christine, establishing her visual record within the context of 18th-century courtly imagery.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1740 by Martin van Meytens, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work is classified as a painted portrait, adhering to the conventions of the genre during the mid-18th century. While the specific handling of the brushwork and the current physical condition of the surface are not detailed in the available records, the material composition is confirmed as oil on canvas. The piece currently resides within the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel was painted by Martin van Meytens in 1740.
The work is listed as part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it remains held as of the documented date.
The portrait of Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel painted by Martin van Meytens in 1740 is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is recorded under the accession details associated with that institution. The work has been included in exhibitions at the museum highlighting 18th-century portraiture and German artistic presence in Copenhagen, as documented in its provenance and exhibition history within the museum's records.
Overview
This 1740 oil portrait presents Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a high‑ranking member of the Austrian imperial family, rendered in the refined manner typical of mid‑eighteenth‑century court painting. The figure occupies a darkened backdrop that concentrates attention on her attire and serene expression, conveying the dignified poise expected of aristocratic sitters.
Context
Van Meyts was a leading portraitist for the Austrian aristocracy, producing images of Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Francis I, and other members of the imperial family. His approach helped standardize the visual language of court portraiture, emphasizing elegance, controlled emotion, and sumptuous costume to reinforce the social hierarchy of the Rococo era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin van Meytens (24 June 1695 – 23 March 1770) was a Swedish-Austrian painter who painted members of the Royal Court of Austria such as Marie Antoinette, Maria Theresa of Austria, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, the…

















