The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgThe CastleInterior and objects7A The Stair Turret
Stue

7A The Stair Turret

In 1633 a new stair turret was built in the middle of the eastern side of Rosenborg. The reason was the upcoming wedding of Christian, the Prince Elect, for which a suitable entrance to the official rooms on the first and second floors was wanted. To begin with, only a spiral staircase was built between the first and the second floor; access to the first floor was via an outer double staircase.

The ground floor of the stair turret was instead used as a silver room, with access from the Stone Passage. The spiral staircase was enlarged in 1758, now reaching the ground floor. The outer staircase was demolished at the same time.

In the Stair Turret, between the first and the second floors, hangs a series of equestrian pictures from 1691-1693; behind the horses, Danish Royal palaces can be seen. Also, some of Maria Sibylla Merian’s flower paintings are displayed here. The lower part of the Stair Turret mainly contains portraits from the time of Christian V.

 Room 8 ->

Obejcts in this room
770-772
770. “Carrousel” paintings from the time of Christian V. The first shows the King himself.
771. A number of equestrian pictures depicting the haute école, 1691-93. In the background, the Royal Danish castles. The first painting is of Christian V in front of Copenhagen Castle.
772. Flower paintings on parchment, executed in the latter part of the 17th century by Maria Sybilla Merian.

Relations

Maria Sibylla Merian

Maria Sibylla Merian was a painter, botanist and entomologist. She was born in Frankfurt and was taught painting and engraving by her stepfather, the painter and engraver Jacob Marrel, whose speciality was traditional Dutch flower pictures.

1675-1700

From 1675 to 1679 the Scanian War was fought with Sweden. But the final goal, to win back Scania, was not reached as no European state would allow both sides of Øresund to be ruled by the same power again.

1650-1675

The wars of Charles Gustavus (1657-1658 and 1658-1660) were the important events in foreign politics of the period. The loss of Scania, Halland and Blekinge at the Peace of Roskilde in 1658 was a nadir of power politics in Danish history.

Christian V

Christian V was the King of Denmark-Norway from 1670; son of Frederik III and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was married to Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel in 1667. He was the father of Frederik IV.