David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl

During the 1680s David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl painted a series of pictures of the royal children. This group portrait depicting Karl XII with three of his siblings, Gustav, Ulrik and Hedvig Sofia. Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the Elder had seven children, but all did not survive to adulthood. Prince Gustav spread a veil over Ulrik in this painting wich was interpreted as a symbol of his death, but the artist, however, indicates in "Die vornehmste Schildereyen welche den into Pallästen des Königreiches englisch zu sehen sind" Prince Ulrik's age to about half a year, which excludes the possibility that the image would be an allegory of the prince's death since he became two years old.

It was previously believed that the painting was made by Ehrenstrahl daughter Anna Maria (1666-1729) who often copied her father's works, but the quality of the painting show more evidence that it is the work by himself.

David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl is often called the the father of Swedish Art. After studies in Amsterdam, he was hired as portrait painter of Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel, who was then Governor General of Pommern. When the count returned to Sweden in 1652 Ehrenstrahl came along. In 1661 he was appointed court painter and numerous are the portraits of the royal dynasty Pfaltz created by Ehrenstrahl.

Registered at the Swedish portrait achive, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden, no SPA 1970:519.

Compare with painting in Sweden's national portrait collection at Gripsholm palace, no 1389 and in the collection of the Nationamuseum in Stockholm, Sweden, no NM6914.