Niclas Lafrensen d.y.

Thanks to a faded and barely-legible inscription on the reverse of this miniature, its sitter has recently been identified as Fredrika Charlotta Insenstierna. Born in 1757, Fredrika was the daughter of Fredrik Ulrik Insenstierna, a senior official at the court of the Swedish king, Fredrik I (1676-1751). Fredrik Ulrik had begun his career by serving as the head of the household of the Crown Prince Adolf Fredrik, who later succeeded Fredrik I as king. From this, he ascended to positions of ever-increasing seniority in the administration of the royal court, before eventually attaining the illustrious role of Hofmarskalk, making him one of the highest-ranking figures within the court. His duties involved the organisation of the many spectacular court ceremonials and entertainments, including dances and banquets. It was a position of considerable stature and was one for which he must have been rewarded handsomely, as is attested by the stout double chin that can be seen on his portrait by Gustaf Lundberg in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, which was made at around the same time as the present miniature. Indeed, given that both portraits were executed around 1761 – the year in which Fredrik was made Hofmarskalk – it does not seem unlikely that they might have been commissioned to commemorate his appointment to the post. As well as his highly-coveted function at court, Fredrik also served as the governor of Västmanland Province.