Dronning Sophia Friderika med arveprinsen 1794 - 1795

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde created this engraving of Queen Sophia Friderica and her son sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century in Denmark. It's a small image, but it speaks volumes about the cultural values of its time. The composition, framed in a circle, presents an intimate scene of maternal instruction. Look at the way the Queen is guiding her son's education, pointing to words on a page. This isn't just a family portrait; it's a carefully constructed image emphasizing the importance of education, duty, and virtue, all key ideals of the Enlightenment era. Engravings like this circulated widely, shaping public perceptions of the royal family. They presented the monarchy as enlightened and morally upright. Investigating court records, correspondence, and publications from the period help us understand how images like this reinforced social hierarchies and moral values. The true meaning of this artwork lies in understanding its historical and institutional context.