Portrait of Jørgen Scheel

The Young Count on Horseback

The portrait of the 11-year-old Count Jørgen Scheel was painted in 1729 by Gustav de Lode (1694-1742).

Jørgen is the only son of Augusta and Christen Scheel and consequently the sole heir of one of the greatest landowners in Denmark. The portrait shows him in front of Gammel Estrup, the ancestral home of the Scheels, emphasising his connection with the manor house.

In the painting, the young nobleman is dressed in long black boots, silver spurs, a powdered wig and a suit of yellow silk. The horse prances elegantly, and the 11-year-old count carries a sabre as well as a pistol. His head is turned towards the viewer, gazing down confidently.