Statsporträttets idé hos G. G. Pilo

Abstract

Summary C. G. Pilo, Painter to the King of Denmark, and the Tradition of the Stateportrait I In 1746 a young Swedish artist, Carl Gustaf Pilo was named court‐pairiter to the newly crowned King of Denmark, Frederick V. This was quite an achievement since Pilo had been comparatively unknown before he thus entered into royal service. During 20 years of appointment to the court, covering the reign of Frederic V, he executed 57 portraits of his patron, of which 12 half‐length, 25 three quarter‐length, 15 full‐length and 4 equestrian. A full‐length portrait showing the king in coronation robes was pronounced to be his best work by a later age rediscovering Pilo as a painter of great talent. His reputation cheifly came to rest on a highly imaginative colour scheme, particularly appealing to the senses as for instance in the last mentioned portrait. There is a question however, whether in fact Pilo qualified for his task as a court painter, something which his own age occasionally felt very much entitled to quest...