Dronning Sophie Amalie 1648 - 1656

Curator: Ah, there’s an engraving that immediately throws me into a bygone era, almost austere, yet possessing a hidden dramatic flair. Editor: Baroque royalty with divine lighting, eh? Gives me a theatrical feeling. It’s all stark contrasts, with hands from heaven handing her a crown. Heavy stuff, literally and figuratively. Curator: Precisely! This is a portrait of Dronning Sophie Amalie, Queen Sophie Amalie. Created sometime between 1648 and 1656 by Hans Andreas Greys. An interesting case, this work blends Baroque drama with, I feel, a burgeoning focus on individual identity typical of portraiture from this period. The inscription spells out her many titles. Editor: The details in that crown are incredible given the medium, but something about the pose, the set jaw, and the prayer hands from above seems to scream, "burden." Royalty, am I right? Curator: Without a doubt! The placement of the crown above her head by what looks like divine hands, signifies her divine right, an important aspect of royal iconography. Editor: "En Dieu Mon Esperance," the motto says... “In God is my hope.” Makes sense given the hovering hands. This engraver knew their symbolism. It also has the cold touch of dynastic ambition, and not necessarily spiritual illumination. I’m being a touch cynical, maybe? Curator: Cynical, perhaps insightful. Power is a complicated matter and visual representations like these always navigate between genuine belief and political statement. Look at the frame within a frame—the ornamentation seems almost aggressive, designed to both contain and elevate the subject. Editor: You're right, it’s a carefully constructed cage! And it reminds me of how our image of historical figures is inevitably mediated, framed and reframed by those in power. Curator: So true, so true. It's a complex dialogue across centuries isn’t it? I keep seeing her and asking "Who are you behind all that?". Editor: Leaving us to sift through symbols and inherited stories to find, perhaps, a ghost of truth, right? A compelling quest.