59. OKÄND KONSTNÄR. 18th century, portrait of a gentleman.

Oil on canvas, 55 x 45 cm

PROVENANCE: Christopher O'Regan Collection

Christopher tells us:
The portrait of the somewhat serious gentleman illustrates rather well the use of the wig in the late 18th century, which, however, should not lead us to believe that wigs were worn widely at this time, even in the upper stalls. Perhaps it is one of the most deeply rooted myths about the Gustavian men, and as they are portrayed in television dramas or on stage, they are always crowned by white wigs, even though the men generally wore their own hair. For example, the cendree-haired Gustaf III, in which a contemporary eyewitness noted that “King Gustaf III wore his own hair”, which is also confirmed by an account from as late as 1866 when the King's coffin was opened in Riddarholmskykirke, noting that, as stated in the protocol drawn up at the time, “the hair is fine, of brown color, bushy over the head, rolled at the sides. laid in curls and with powder sprinkled.” In a 1796 article in the Daily Allehanda, it was explained that men wore wigs when they “did not think they had enough hair on their heads”. A fate that has befallen many middle-aged men both past and now — and probably also the man in the portrait.