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In the spring of 2000 I visited an exhibition at the Royal Armoury in Stockholm. (Sweden's oldest museum -well worth the visit) The exhibition was called Queens -Femininity and Power and described the Queen's role in the swedish history and because it was housed in the armoury portraits and clothes of these queens were on display. I had the foresight to buy a copy of the prospectus and would like to share with you a few of the many items on display.    Starting with the middleages we have Queen Ragnhild who although is presumed to have lived in the 9th or possible 10th century is depicted here in a 13th century painting found in Enangers. She is depicted as a saint, which was the practise at the time in depicting queens. Next to her is a portrait of Queen Dorotea of Hohenzollern (circa1430-1495) Dorotea was first married to Kristofer of Bavaria in the years 1445-48 and then married Kristian I of Denmark. On the right of Dorotea sits the young Elisabeth (Isabelle) of Habsburg (1501-1526). Elisabeth was sister to none other than the future german Emperor Karl V ruler over the Habsburg empire and the Spanish countries, without doubt one of the most powerful men of the world. Elisabeth married Christian the Tyrant and was our last medieval queen.  
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (1599-1655) who married Gustav II Adolf in1620. The portrait was painted 1619 by an unknown artist. The next rather grim looking portrait depicts Sara Larsdotter (1608-1689) who was one of queen Kristina's Maids of Honour. (Oil painting by Elbfas)   Lovisa Ulrika in bridal aparel, 1744. Girandole earrings, a bow at her throat, two bracelets and a floral aigrette were the height of fashion at the time. (Oil on canvas by Antoine Pesne) Next to her is a photo pf Sofia Magdalena's wedding gown, 1766. The gown is a robe de cour of silver brocade with silver bobbin lace. Sofia Magdalena herself is depicted in the portrait at the top of the page. There aged 20 she is wearing one f her magnificent robes de cour, lavishly adorned with lace accessories. (Oil painting by Carl Gustaf Pilo, 1766)   Frederika Dorothea Vilhelmina (1781-1826) Princess of Baden maried Gustav IV Adolf in 1797, exiled 1809, divorced 1812. This portrait by E.B Skoldebrand was painted posthumously in 1850. The dress is her wedding dress modelled on the Swedish court dress and originally edged with silver lace.    Engagement portrait of 16-year-old princess Josefina of Leuchtenberg, who married the Crown Prince Oscar in 1823 (painting by J. Stieler. The next picture is the wedding of Josefina and Oscar in Stockholm Cathedral, June 19th. (Detail of painting by Per Kraft) Josephina brought this redingote with her when she came to Sweden. The cut is typical of 1810’s with its high waist and closefitting sleeves. It’s made out of a fine wool, lined with white silks and embroidered with gold thread.  This lovely 1860’s coat belonged to Queen Lovisa (1828-1871) She married Car XV in 1850 and became queen when he took over the throne in 1860.  Queen Victoria’s uniform as Colonel in Chief of the Pomeranian Regiment of Fusiliers, 1909. Victoria of Baden (1862-1930) married Gustav V in 1881 and shared his throne when he was crowned in 1908. Victoria wore the uniform on June 17th 1909 when she inspected the regiment at Stettin. She got the title of Colonel in Chief when her cousin emperor Wilhelm II visited Sweden in 1908.  Children’s wear: Top Left: Boy’s costume in black velvet for one of the sons of Sofia and Oskar II, 1860’s. Top Right: Another boy’s costume from the 1860’s in the style of a Zouave uniform. Bottom Left: Another of the boy’s costumes in cream silk with red velvet binding and embroidered with red silk cord. A especially note worthy detail are the acorn shaped buttons. Bottom Right: A suit complete with jacket waistcoat and trousers in grey Thai silk. There are three of these suits made for the princes Gustaf, Oscar, Carl or Eugen. |
