Charles XII of Sweden was the only surviving son of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleanora and inherited the crown from his father in 1697. Charles XII’s reign was dominated by the Great Northern War against Denmark, Poland and Russia and he eventually died in battle, during an assault against Norway. 

His soldierly image was disseminated in portraits, in which he almost invariably wears military dress consisting of a simple blue coat with blue buttons as here. He is portrayed with his natural hair, without a full wig as was common to wear at the time.

The portrait is after a much-copied full-length by David von Krafft (see RCIN 406520 for a full-length copy).