The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgCastle historyInterior and objects15 Christian VII's RoomChristian VII

Christian VII

Christian VII, wearing a powdered wig with three puffs and a black ribbon at the neck, observes the viewer in this portrait painted by Jens Juel. The King’s left hand rests on a table, on which a black hat is also placed. He wears a red jacket and a yellow waistcoat with a gold ribbon, and is furthermore decorated with the Order of the Elephant as well as rapier at his side.

Placing the king in naturalistic surroundings was typical of Jens Juel’s style, the inspiration for which he had found during a stay in Switzerland. The idea was that the person portrayed should be painted in his or her usual surroundings, and not among lofty clouds, as was characteristic of the rococo.

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Caroline Mathilde, 1771

Caroline Mathilde. Copy of original by Jens Juel from 1771.

Christian VII, 1789

Portrait of Christian VII in his coronation robes.

Christian VII's robe

Christian 7th couldn’t himself decide what to wear on his coronation in 1767. Since his great-great-great-great grandfather Christian 4th’s coronation, it had become a tradition that new kings wore a special, fine and expensive coronation suit. It was made of white silk woven with gold, and cut to imitate the style of a Spanish nobleman from the late 1500’s. At the coronation ceremony the King put on the red velvet mantle embroidered with gold, and lined with ermine, one of the most exclusive royal symbols in all of Europe. The garments and mantle kept their old-fashioned style, like the ceremony itself, for almost 300 years, right up to the last Danish coronation in 1840. Coronations are the most glorious ceremonies in the hierarchy of power. The clothes that the King wore, in the time before television cameras, helped to make him visible at a distance. The coronation robes are the manifestation of his ascending the throne, with God’s benediction, and it had to be highly visible, with sweeping lengths of silk velvet, glittering jewels, gold brocaded fabrics, cascades of lace, and fluttering plumes. The garments were heavy, expensive, uncomfortable and delicate, which forced the King to move slowly and solemnly. A king’s daily garments in 1767 mainly resembled the new, fashionable uniforms, so his coronation garments – which he only wore that one day – looked very exotic. His short, skirt-like breeches and the fitted doublet were just as peculiar in 1767 as knee breeches and lace cravats would be for us today.

Jens Juel

The painter Jens Juel represents something close to the high point of Danish portrait painting of the 18th century. He later became a much celebrated court painter.

Queen Marie

Queen Marie, with the Order of Christian VII. Painted by Jens Juel.

Frederik VI as prince

Frederik VI when a prince; oval, painted by Jens Juel.