King Frederik V of Denmark in Anointing Robes 1748 - 1751

This is a portrait of King Frederik V of Denmark in his anointing robes, painted by C.G. Pilo. Look closely, and you’ll notice the marvelous details of his ermine-lined robe, his metal-threaded garb, and his powdered wig. The labor required to produce such an image, or the garments worn by the King is not something we might consider. Yet this portrait, made with ground pigments suspended in oil, is a testament to human ingenuity. And it reflects the immense power of the monarchy, which could command not only the resources to commission such a likeness, but also the labor to produce the finery worn by the sitter. Consider the mines from which those precious metals were extracted, the weavers who produced the cloth, and the furriers who prepared the ermine pelts. All of them are implicated in this image of absolute authority. By considering the immense amount of work and materials that went into the making of this portrait, and the king’s garments, we can appreciate the power dynamics at play.