Portrait of Frederik V in Anointment Robe 1748 - 1751
cgpilo
statensmuseumforkunst
canvas
gouache
fantasy art
charcoal drawing
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
canvas
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolour illustration
mixed media
watercolor
This portrait, painted by Danish artist C.G. Pilo between 1748 and 1751, depicts Frederik V, King of Denmark and Norway, standing majestically in his royal robes. The artwork, housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, showcases Pilo's mastery of Baroque portraiture, capturing the king's regal presence with intricate detail and a sense of grandeur. Frederik V's elaborate attire, complete with an ermine-lined cloak and a bejeweled sword, emphasizes his status and power. The soft lighting and subtle background create a sense of formality, highlighting the king's authority and the symbolic nature of the portrait.
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The Swedish artist C.G. Pilo became a court painter in the Danish royal household in 1747, the same year that Frederic 5. was anointed King. Pilo remained court painter until he left Denmark again in 1771.In 1660 the Danish monarchy went from being an elective monarchy to absolutism, and Danish kings were anointed rather than crowned.The anointing ceremonyDuring the ceremony, the king’s brow, chest, and right wrist were anointed, and indeed Pilo made reference to these specifics by letting the king’s brow catch the light and letting his right hand be ungloved.An illustration of the monarch's immortalityThe objective of the anointing was mainly to illustrate the immortality of the monarch irrespective of the fact that the ritual marked the accession of a new person to discharge the duties. The Crown was to be displayed in all its constancy and immutability. That is why King Frederic 5. is shown in a posture similar to the steps of the minuet, and Pilo presents both the symbols of the Throne and the details of the anointing ceremony.The setting for all this pomp and circumstance appears to go beyond any specific site: the undulating patterns of the anointing curtain is repeated in the folds of the ermine cloak, which in turn merges with the profusions of clouds and draperies in the background.
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The Swedish-born court painter Pilo has depicted the absolute Danish monarch as elevated high above his subjects, surrounded by clouds and fluttering robes. The king has no equal, and he belongs to a different sphere than the common citizen. Frederik V is wearing his anointment robe, further accentuating his position. The anointment signifies that the monarchy is instituted by God. During the anointment the king would be daubed on his forehead, chest, and right wrist, and the painter refers to this by letting his forehead catch the light and leaving his right hand ungloved. Pilo strove for verisimilitude in his portraiture, but did not seek to provide an impression of Frederik V as a person. This is a portrait of a ruler, not an individual.
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