# Queen Christina of Sweden

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/queen-christina-of-sweden-r3d29ba008e9219>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [BOURDON, Sébastien](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 72 x 58 cm

## Commentary

Bourdon went to Sweden in 1652, where he entered the service of that redoubtable monarch Queen Christina, who eventually gave up politics for art. During his years in Sweden, Bourdon mostly executed portraits, characterized by their elegance and subtlety. They are usually bust-length with the face slightly turned, a type of portrait that was to be extremely influential on the next generation of painters, especially Le Brun and Mignard, and a whole host of more minor portraitists. In this portrait the informality of the treatment of the sitter is striking.

## Related artworks

- [A Scene from Roman History](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/a-scene-from-roman-history-r26abddc0f1c3c3>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/adoration-of-the-magi-rf67c7b4c76646c>)
- [Bacchus and Ceres with Nymphs and Satyrs](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/bacchus-and-ceres-with-nymphs-and-satyrs-rbd9df35fc0ce69>)
- [Countess Ebba Sparre](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/countess-ebba-sparre-rfefc0f8e009aca>)
- [Death of Dido](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/death-of-dido-r7549272a790e78>)
- [Deposition from the Cross \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/deposition-from-the-cross-detail-r6ca5a0da1cd029>)
- [Deposition from the Cross](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/deposition-from-the-cross-r5c7c68f1083a0a>)
- [King Solomon Sacrificing to the Idols](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/king-solomon-sacrificing-to-the-idols-rea507cdb3e94ca>)
- [Moses and the Brazen Serpent](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/moses-and-the-brazen-serpent-rab4e70350eaf46>)
- [Portrait of a Man](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/portrait-of-a-man-r28c1f0b727aeaa>)
- [Presentation in the Temple](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/presentation-in-the-temple-r7e3f1e3ae43cfc>)
- [Presumed Portrait of René Descartes](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bourdon-sbastien-r0a1d80177e59ad/presumed-portrait-of-ren-descartes-r182626ed5a35dc>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)