Portrait of Frederik V in Anointment Robe
by PILO, Carl Gustaf, Oil on canvas, 232 x 140 cm
In 1660 the Danish monarchy went from being an elective monarchy to absolutism, and Danish kings were anointed rather than crowned. The Swedish artist Carl Gustaf Pilo became a court painter in the Danish royal household in 1747, the same year that Frederik V was anointed King.
During the anointing ceremony, the king’s brow, chest, and right wrist were anointed, and indeed Pilo made reference to these specifics by letting the king’s brow catch the light and letting his right hand be ungloved.