Equestrian Portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia, Consort of Prince William V (Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina) by Tethart Philipp Christian Haag
This is the *Equestrian Portrait of Wilhelmina of Prussia, Consort of Prince William V* by Tethart Philipp Christian Haag, painted in 1795 and housed at the Rijksmuseum. This painting hides a dramatic escape during a time of revolution. Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange, is shown in an imposing equestrian pose, dressed in a striking blue riding habit and a hat with an elaborate plume. Her grip on the reins conveys strength, and the dynamic stance of the horse suggests imminent action. The tumultuous sky and the hint of a church tower in the distance by the artist Tethart Philipp Christian Haag are more than just background; they subtly allude to the perilous journey Wilhelmina undertook that very year. Her husband, Prince William V, was overthrown, and she fled with their children, reportedly using this very horse. Haag, court painter to the Prince, masterfully concealed this act of desperate flight within the grand portrait, transforming a formal commission into a coded historical document. The painting captures not just a royal consort, but a mother escaping danger, her regal bearing masking a desperate flight for survival.
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She rides like she is leading an army. Look at her hands. They grip tight. This was painted in 1795. Europe was a battlefield. Her father was a king. Her husband was a prince. But her husband was overthrown that year. She fled with her children on this horse. Haag hid her flight in the background.