The Life and Art of Carl Gustav Klingstedt
Carl Gustav Klingstedt was a Swedish miniature painter who lived from 1657 in Riga, Latvia, until 1734 in Paris, France. His journey began in the military, having entered the Swedish army in 1672 before later becoming a French soldier. In 1689, he transitioned away from military service to dedicate himself to art. His professional career saw him serve as a draftsman for Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria, and he also worked for Philippe I, Duke of Orleans. During his time in France, he received a pension from the cardinal minister Guillaume Dubois and was known by the French form of his name, Clinchelet, or Clinchetet and Clingetel.
Klingstedt achieved significant popularity for his skill, earning the nickname "Le Raphael des Tabatiers" due to his refinement in detail and perfection in execution. His work was highly regarded by contemporaries; the knight Louis de Jaucourt wrote about him in l’Encyclopedie, and Voltaire wrote a sonnet celebrating the beauty captured by his hand. His talent was such that a portrait of him was painted in 1712 by Jean Marc Nattier.
Technique and Subject Matter
As a miniaturist, Klingstedt was known for painting mainly gallant and often free scenes for tobacco boxes. His works are rarely signed or dated and were primarily executed on vellum using Indian ink, watercolor, or gouache. He also utilized enamel painting on copper and watercolor on ivory. A distinctive feature of his technique was the use of a grisaille style, which restricted his palette to a spectrum of grey tones to provide figures with a sculptural depth, often accented with individual colored details.
His repertoire of subjects was diverse, including:
His artistic legacy is preserved in major institutions, including the Louvre, the Met, the British Museum, the Wallace Collection, and the Tansey Foundation.
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