Alexander Roslin

Alexander Roslin
Self Portrait while Painting the King of Sweden 1785
Born(1718-07-15)15 July 1718
Malmö, Sweden
Died5 July 1793(1793-07-05) (aged 74)
Paris, France
Spouse
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(m. 1759)​
Signature

Alexander Roslin (spelled Alexandre in French, pronounced [alɛksɑ̃dʁ ʁɔslɛ̃]; 15 July 1718 – 5 July 1793) was a Swedish painter who worked in Scania, Bayreuth, Paris, Italy, Warsaw and St. Petersburg, primarily for members of aristocratic families. He combined insightful psychological portrayal with a skillful representation of fabrics and jewels.[1][2]

His style combined Classicist tendencies with the lustrous, shimmering colours of Rococo, a jocular, elegant and ornate style. He lived in France from 1752 until 1793, a period that spanned most of his career.[3] The painting by Roslin depicting Jeanne Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis, Countess of Egmont Pignatelli, was bought by the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 2006 for US$3 million.[4][5] Roslin also has pieces displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[6]

  1. ^ Krol, A. E. (1970). Skandinavskii sbornik. Vol. 15. Tallinn. pp. 219–33. Retrieved 23 February 2014, cited in "Roslin, Alexander", Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd ed., translation 2010.
  2. ^ Bjurström, Per (1993). Roslin (in Swedish). Höganäs. pp. 56, 163, 168–169, 208, 233. ISBN 9171195556.
  3. ^ Jeffares, Neil. "Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, online edition" (PDF). Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Alexander Roslin". Antikvärlden (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  5. ^ Kinsella, Eileen (6 June 2006). "Minneapolis Museum acquires a $3m Roslin portrait". Art News. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Alexander Roslin | Gustav III". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 9 October 2023.