The Royal Danish CollectionRosenborgKarel van Mander

Karel van Mander

The dutch painter Karel van Mander’s father was a painter and a weaver of tapestries. Shortly before his death in 1623, he executed a series of tapestries for Frederiksborg Palace with motives from the Kalmar War for Christian IV. Karel van Mander went to Copenhagen together with his mother in the same year, in order to claim payment for the tapestries.

After a couple of years in Denmark, van Mander returned to Holland where he studied with Rembrandt. Following his next visit to Copenhagen he received support from the King for a study trip to Italy from 1635 to 1638. Van Mander then became court painter for Christian IV.

Karel van Mander was particularly recognised as a painter of portraits. The collection of his paintings in Rosenborg shows his popularity at the Danish Royal Court as it contains portraits of three Danish kings; Christian IV, Frederik III and Christian V. Among the many portraits are the painting of Christian IV on horseback in front of Rosenborg and the portraits of Queen Sophie Amalie and her son Christian (V), as a child.

Relations

Christian V as the prince elect

It was considered of great importance to be able to defend not only the people but more sayingly the various provinces and borders of the danish kingdom.

Christian IV

Christian IV was the King of Denmark and Norway from 1588; crowned in 1596. Son of Frederik II and Sophie of Mecklenburg.

Christian IV on horseback

Christian IV on horseback in front of Rosenborg. Beside the King is possibly the architect, Hans von Steenwinckel. Painted c. 1638, probably by Karel van Mander.

Prince Christian, 1642

Christian, the Prince Elect. Painted on wood by Karel van Mander, 1642.

Magdalena Sibylla, 1642

Magdalena Sibylla, consort to Christian, the Prince Elect. She was born the Electoral Princess of Saxony. Painted on wood by Karel van Mander, 1642.

Frederik III, ca. 1645

Miniature of Frederik III from c. 1645, possibly painted by Karel van Mander. Frederik became heir to the Throne in 1647 after the death of his older brother Christian, but here he has let himself be pictured with Christian IV’s distinctive mark: a pigtail.

Christian IV, 1640

Portrait of Christian IV. Painted by Karel van Mander.

Ellen Marsvin, 1648

Ellen Marsvin, Kirsten Munk’s mother. Half-length, painted by Karel van Mander. The painting is dated 1648, the year before Ellen Marsvin died.