Maria Sophia Friederica

Johan Frederik Clemens (1749-1831) was the most eminent Danish printmaker of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He studied in Copenhagen and Paris, and spent stints in Berlin and London. He became professor of copperplate engraving at the Academy in 1813. Towards the end of his life he turned increasingly to lithography. His artistic friends included the painters Jens Juel (1745-1802) and Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard, and he based numerous engravings on their works. This portrait derives from one such by Juel, and depicts Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1758-94) who was born a Princess and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. By the time of this portrait, she Hereditary Princess of Denmark and Norway and consort to Frederick. Described as jolly, charming and intelligent, she became popular in her adopted country.

See:

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_Sophia_Frederica_of_Mecklenburg-Schwerin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Frederik_Clemens

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   March 2019