An engraving of the gentleman's portrait was made by Johan Elias Haid (1739–1809), dated 1774.

It has not been possible to identify with certainty who painted these two beautiful portraits of Landgrave Carl and Landgravine Louise of Hesse-Kassel. Unfortunately, the paintings are not signed. There is no doubt that these are portraits of two young people and it would make perfect sense that they were portrayed in connection with their engagement and marriage, i.e. around 1766, when their wedding took place in Christiansborg Palace Church. Incidentally, 1766 was an eventful year in the royal family. King Frederik V died in January. In addition to the Landgrave couple getting married, Landgrave Carl of Hesse-Kassel's younger brother of Prince Elector Wilhelm I of Hesse-Kassel (1743–1821), married King Frederik V's daughter Wilhelmine (1747–1820). Furthermore she and the Landgravine's brother, King Christian VII of Denmark (1749–1808) married Princess Caroline Mathilde of England (1751–1775).

Who painted members of the court in the 1760s? Among others, Carl Gustav Pilo (1711–1793) and Virgilius Eriksen (1722–1782) did so, but they cannot have painted the Landgrave couple, since that is not their way of painting at all. Another royal portrait painter can be mentioned, namely Peder Als (1726–1776), whom it is natural to suggest as the artist. Who was he? He was the first to win the great gold medal at the Academy after its foundation in 1754. He received the great travel grant and went to Rome in 1756, where he worked in Raphael Meng's studio (1728–1779). In 1762, Als returned home and worked primarily as a portrait painter. The following year he became a member of the Academy. In 1765 Peder Als received a royal gift of 400 rigsdaler and became a professor at the Academy the following year. It is therefore likely that the newly appointed court painter was commissioned to paint the young landgrave couple. At Bruun Rasmussen Art Auction 671, 1999 no. 247 ill. p. , a pair of portraits of Colonel Christian von Sundt (1720–1775) and his wife Benedicte Rudolphine von Ingenhaeff (1735–1803), painted by Peder Als, were offered for sale. They are very similar in painting style etc. to the landgrave couple.

Illustrated: “Dansk sølv i fortid og nutid”, Copenhagen 2020, vol. 2, p.482–483.

Provenance: ”The Historical Collection of Four Princesses From the Cavalier House of Glücksburg Castle”. The cultural heritage after the sisters, Her Highness Princess Elisabeth of Ysenburg and Büdingen, née Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1945–2024), Her Highness Princess Irene of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (b. 1946), Her Highness Princess Margaretha of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (b. 1948), and Her Highness Princess Sibylla Ursula of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (b. 1955). Online auction no. 2545 at Bruun Rasmussen Arts Auctioneers in Lyngby, 3 November, 2025.