Queen Silvia has been photographed and portrayed in paintings many times. But now, the Queen of Sweden has revealed there’s one portrait that she doesn’t really like.
In the Swedish magazine “Antiquities and Auction” , Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf have give an exclusive interview from Stockholm Palace. In this new interview, Queen Silvia reveals that it is a portrait painting of herself and her family in particular that she does not like.
In the interview, the royal couple let the magazine into some of the rooms that are usually closed off, including some of the octagonal cabinet. They chat about art, architecture and the royal couple’s coolest museum experience.
But when asked about John-Erik Franzén’s official giant portrait of the royal family, a painting that hangs in the State’s collection at Gripsholm Castle, the Queen of Sweden gives a very honest answer. The portrait shows the couple with their three children, all then very young.
It is the King who comments on the matter and reveals that his wife do not like this painting. The king himself adds that he found the portrait amusing. The painting was the work of artist John-Erik Franzén who died last year.
Queen Silvia adds: “The portrait is very special. I do not like when he painted the crown princess with her arm at her side. It was not apt for her as a person, I think, because it was a bit “von oben”. And it is not her!”
The pose in question shows a then, very young Victoria, with one arm on her hip and the other at her side as she looks into the distance with a smile. ”Von oben” can be taken to mean snobby.
Later in the interview, the King and Queen of Sweden also reveal that they buy very little art themselves. They add that they regret they did not start buying art when they were younger. King Carl Gustav also says that he has his own and still growing collection of modern Swedish silver.
