Dronning Caroline Mathilde med kronprins Frederik. 1771

Peder Als created this watercolor and graphite work, "Queen Caroline Mathilde with Crown Prince Frederick," in Denmark around the 1760s. It depicts the Queen seated elegantly beside her young son. Although seemingly a private and intimate scene, images of the royal family at this time served a crucial public function. As literacy rates grew, visual media gained importance as a tool to shape public sentiment toward the monarchy. Caroline Mathilde, the British-born Queen Consort of Denmark and Norway, became a controversial figure due to rumors of infidelity and political intrigue. Therefore, this portrait, ostensibly of a loving mother and son, can be seen as an attempt to bolster her public image. Historians consult sources like letters, diaries, newspapers, and political pamphlets to fully understand the social and political context that shaped the artwork and informed its reception. By understanding the social and institutional context of this portrait, we see it is not just a depiction of the Queen, but also a reflection of the role of monarchy in Danish society.