Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller
- Uğur İNAN
- Feb 23, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 29, 2024
![Adolf Fredrik Wertmüller was commissioned by King Gustav III to paint this portrait of Marie Antoinette and two of her children. The painting was displayed at the Salon in Paris in 1785, four years before the French Revolution. Wertmüller’s autobiography explains how the portrait came about: “I travelled […] to Versailles and from there to Petit Trianon, where she spent her summers. That is where I painted portraits of her and the Princess, who was six years old at the time. The Queen welcomed me with the greatest of kindness and distinction, and gave the order that I should paint His Highness The Dauphin at La Muette [the residence of the French Crown Prince] while I was here.” […] “I then headed back to Paris and painted a large canvas of natural size and the full length of the person[s].” Wertmüller ordered two mannequins for his studio in Paris – one for the Dauphin’s portrait and one for the Princess. It was common to lend the portraitist the clothing that you wanted to be depicted in. It is therefore assumed that the costumes in which the mannequins were dressed actually belonged to the Royal children. Wertmüller also ordered a special coiffure from the Queen’s wigmaker Monsieur Léonard, and he is likely to have had access to the robe à la turque (Turkish dress) that Marie Antoinette is wearing in the portrait. Wertmüller portrays the Queen in an environment where she spent much of her time: the gardens surrounding her palace Petit Trianon, near Versailles. It is the Queen’s role as a mother that is highlighted in the portrait, in the spirit of Rousseau. This is a conscious choice, part of a strategy to change the official image of Marie Antoinette from a frivolous foreigner who loved life’s luxuries to the mother of all France. Princess Marie-Thérèse Charlotte has dropped a rose on the ground. Perhaps she pricked herself on a thorn? The dress does have small flecks of blood on it. The Dauphin is holding tightly onto his mother’s dress. Marie Antoinette was 30 years old when the portrait was painted. Louis-Joseph was four. He died three years later of tuberculosis. Marie-Thérèse Charlotte was the only member of the family to survive the Revolution.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8e8767_91ec8dafadc44d48b46ca8dde79243f8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,al_c,q_30,blur_30/8e8767_91ec8dafadc44d48b46ca8dde79243f8~mv2.jpg)
![Adolf Fredrik Wertmüller was commissioned by King Gustav III to paint this portrait of Marie Antoinette and two of her children. The painting was displayed at the Salon in Paris in 1785, four years before the French Revolution. Wertmüller’s autobiography explains how the portrait came about: “I travelled […] to Versailles and from there to Petit Trianon, where she spent her summers. That is where I painted portraits of her and the Princess, who was six years old at the time. The Queen welcomed me with the greatest of kindness and distinction, and gave the order that I should paint His Highness The Dauphin at La Muette [the residence of the French Crown Prince] while I was here.” […] “I then headed back to Paris and painted a large canvas of natural size and the full length of the person[s].” Wertmüller ordered two mannequins for his studio in Paris – one for the Dauphin’s portrait and one for the Princess. It was common to lend the portraitist the clothing that you wanted to be depicted in. It is therefore assumed that the costumes in which the mannequins were dressed actually belonged to the Royal children. Wertmüller also ordered a special coiffure from the Queen’s wigmaker Monsieur Léonard, and he is likely to have had access to the robe à la turque (Turkish dress) that Marie Antoinette is wearing in the portrait. Wertmüller portrays the Queen in an environment where she spent much of her time: the gardens surrounding her palace Petit Trianon, near Versailles. It is the Queen’s role as a mother that is highlighted in the portrait, in the spirit of Rousseau. This is a conscious choice, part of a strategy to change the official image of Marie Antoinette from a frivolous foreigner who loved life’s luxuries to the mother of all France. Princess Marie-Thérèse Charlotte has dropped a rose on the ground. Perhaps she pricked herself on a thorn? The dress does have small flecks of blood on it. The Dauphin is holding tightly onto his mother’s dress. Marie Antoinette was 30 years old when the portrait was painted. Louis-Joseph was four. He died three years later of tuberculosis. Marie-Thérèse Charlotte was the only member of the family to survive the Revolution.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8e8767_91ec8dafadc44d48b46ca8dde79243f8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_324,h_323,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90/8e8767_91ec8dafadc44d48b46ca8dde79243f8~mv2.jpg)
Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller was a Swedish painter who lived from 1751 to 1811. He was known for his portraits and historical paintings, and he gained recognition for his work during his time in France.
Wertmüller was born in Stockholm, Sweden and studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. He later moved to France and became a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Wertmüller was a successful painter in France, receiving commissions from the royal family and other prominent figures.
Some of Wertmüller's most famous works include his portrait of Marie Antoinette and his painting of the French revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of his subjects.
In addition to his portraits, Wertmüller also painted historical scenes and mythological subjects. His work was highly sought after and he was considered one of the leading painters of his time.
Today, Wertmüller's paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world. His work continues to be admired for its beauty and technical skill.
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