Caroline Mathilde og Struensee på ridetur ved Hørsholm 1870 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand created this drawing of Caroline Mathilde and Struensee riding near Hørsholm using pencil and wash on paper. The composition is structured by diagonal lines of the horses and the trees. Notice how the trees frame the figures, guiding your eye to the central duo, Caroline and Struensee, their faces turned toward each other in what seems to be a private exchange. This is set against a backdrop of a blurred crowd, possibly onlookers or members of the court, rendered with less detail, which directs our attention back to the main subjects. The monochromatic palette and the sketch-like quality lend a sense of immediacy, capturing a fleeting moment. Marstrand's technique implies movement and instability, perhaps hinting at the precarious nature of their relationship within the rigid structure of royal life. The dog running alongside them adds to this feeling of dynamism, further breaking the formality typically associated with royal portraiture. This is a visual study of power, desire, and social constraint. It also acts as a subtle commentary on the disruptive potential of individual agency against established hierarchies.