The first official painted portrait of King Frederik X since his accession was unveiled at Frederiksborg Castle on Friday. The work was created by Danish artist Cathrine Raben Davidsen.
According to DR, the portrait was revealed on the evening of Friday, September 25, at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød. It is the first official painted portrait of the monarch since the change of throne in January 2024.
The king is depicted in naval gala uniform, wearing the Order of the Elephant, breast stars, a sword and white gloves. He appears surrounded by green leaves and white marguerites, and by his predecessors from the Glücksburg dynasty.
Meetings in nature
Davidsen told DR that she was asked two years ago to paint the king. Her process included several meetings with Frederik, among them at Kongsøre by the Isefjord, often on walks outdoors. She said she had to reach the person before she could paint the monarch.
Nature enters the painting through her interpretation of Kongeegen, an old oak in Jægerspris Nordskov. The tree is estimated to be between 1,400 and 1,900 years old. The marguerites are Denmark’s national flower and, per Davidsen, a nod to Queen Margrethe and the king’s link to his mother.
As reported by DR, the king took part in the work itself. Davidsen asked him whether he wanted to paint some of the marguerites, and he agreed. She described the result as partly his work as well.
A place in the Great Hall
The portrait was commissioned by Frederiksborg, Denmark’s national history museum and home of the national portrait gallery, shortly after the 2024 accession. The museum was founded in 1878 by Carlsberg founder J.C. Jacobsen. Before that, the castle served as a residence for Danish kings.
Mette Houlberg Rung, art historian and head of collections and exhibitions at Frederiksborg, describes the Great Hall as a large family album. She noted that the portraits demonstrate the line of succession, running from Christian IX to Frederik X.
The painting now hangs in the Great Hall, which is open to the public year round. Opposite it hangs a portrait of Queen Alexandra of Britain, daughter of Christian IX. To the king’s right hangs his great-grandfather Christian X.
According to Frederiksborg, Davidsen is the first female artist to paint an official portrait of a Danish monarch for the Great Hall. She said she does not see herself as a female artist but as a visual artist. She added that she hopes more women will be represented in the room in future.
Davidsen worked on the portrait for two years. She told DR that people will have many opinions about the likeness and the king’s apparent age. She said the work is no longer hers and has now been set free, joining the wider Danish monarchy collection at the museum.
