Carl Gustaf Pilo (1711 – 1793) is one of Denmark’s most outstanding painters of the 18^th century.

The Danish painter lived and worked most of his life in Sweden, in the Royal Court.  He received many awards in his life and was also appointed an honorary member of the Swedish Academy of Arts, and the Royal Danish Academy of Arts, and member of the Academy of Art in St. Petersburg.  He served as a professor to both academies during his life, both as an academic, and managerial personnel.   His work was widely acknowledged in and around the Royal Court, where he served as the king’s personal painter.  After the ouster of foreign painters from Denmark, Pilo returned to Sweden, where he stayed until his death in 1793.  He was commissioned by king Gustav III to paint his coronation, a piece of work he Painting till his very end.  He was appointed Director of the Swedish Academy, where he lived out his days.

Pilo’s work consists mainly on Royal paintings – portraits but also paintings in the Dutch style.  He was influenced by the paintings of Rembrandt and other great Dutch Masters of the 17^th century that the Royal Court collected.  He was also influenced by the French Painter Louis Tocque that visited Denmark in the late 1760’s.

Pilo’s work is of a Rococo ambient. Rococo is a late 18^th century French artistic movement that took on from painting, architecture, and sculpture to garden design and literature.  Departing form the church- baroque orientation, rococo is a more naughty and impure in the behavior of the painted subject.  It has a decorative style and uses delicate colors, also gold and asymmetrical curving forms.  Portraits are also popular in the rococo époque.  It is a style that has achieved much criticism as being superficial and of poor taste, however, it is recognized as a major period in the history of Art and the development of European Art.

By the end of the 18^th century Rococo was replaced with the Neoclassic style, which also Pilo himself evolved a swift in his style.  Neoclassism, is born through a fresh overview of the ancient Greek and Roman art.  It was born in Rome in the mid-18^th century and spread throughout Europe. In opposition to Baroque and Rococo that used ornamentation and asymmetry, neoclassical studies celebrate simplicity and symmetrical forms as virtues used in the ancient Greco-Roman world.

The monumental work of Pilo “Frederik V in his Anointing Robes”, in rococo style represents the Anointing of The King Frederick V.  In Denmark the ceremony of the King was not crowned but rather anointed, that is a ritual act pouring aromatic oil over his brow, chest and right wrist.  That is since the Danish Monarchy went from being an elective monarchy to absolutism. Pilo makes reference of this ceremony, by the light that falls on his face and by letting his right hand ungloved.   The ceremony represents the king’s immortality, even in succession, such as a new person taking the place of the king.  The posture of the king is eminent taking the steps of the minute, representing the symbols of both the Throne and of the anointing ceremony.  The stance of the King to be, sits in profound rapture in a trigonal form, letting the light sit on the face and body of the subject.  The touch of the cloak multiplies in the painting with the undulating folding of the curtain and the lightly coloured background.  The revealing details of the painting, of the hands of the subject and sword the clothes and cloak are pleasing to the eye, and revealing information of an era forgone.

It is one of many Pilo’s royal works that brought him fame and recognition, and still distinguish him from other Danish and Swedish painters of his time.

The post Carl Gustaf Pilo (1711-93) – Frederik V in his Anointing Robes, c. 1750 appeared first on MottoCosmos.com.