Anyone who admires Michael Dahl's self-portrait, which is part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, would rather think of a French painter than a Swedish one. But this is not the only unconventional thing about this artist, around whom numerous mysteries entwine. One of the mysteries surrounding him is the day of his birth, whereby, strictly speaking, not even his year of birth is guaranteed. What is certain is that he did not see the light of day before 1656 and not after 1659. His origin is also in the dark. What is only known about his mother is that she probably belonged to the lower middle class and made numerous sacrifices in order to enable her son an education in London. His father was not worth mentioning to the historians.
Before Dahl set out to conquer London, he studied with the most famous Swedish painter of his time, David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl. The Swedish nobleman with German roots created the famous ceiling painting in the Knights' House in Stockholm. However, Ehrenstrahl only taught candidates who could convince his companion, the no less mysterious German-Hungarian painter and draughtsman Martin Hannibal, of their merits. Hannibal can today, curiously enough, no longer be attributed a single work, although he was known far beyond Sweden in the 17th century and was probably also very productive.
Thanks to the recommendation of his two teachers, the financial support of his mother and the help of a - you probably already guessed it - mysterious English merchant, Dahl finally arrived in London, where Godfrey Kneller, the leading portrait painter of the late 17th century, took him under his wing. With Kneller, the young Swede learned not only what makes a really good portrait, but also how to turn artistic talent into profit. Dahl not only earned his first spurs as a portrait and court painter in London, but also a small fortune. That, and probably his friendship with the promising young artist Henry Tilton, motivated him to go first to Paris and then to Rome.
Rome became a career springboard for Dahl. He owed his rise to another legendary figure in history. The talented young Mahler caught the attention of the Swedish ex-queen Christine, who had abdicated to convert to the Catholic faith. Christine established contact with Pope Innocent XI, who was impressed by Dahl's work and awarded him an order.
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1653092).jpg "Portrait of Lady Anne Seymour, Marchioness of Carmarthen by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Peregrine Hyde Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen, later 3rd Duke of Leeds by Michael Dahl")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1457879).jpg "Elizabeth Grey, later Countess of Portsmouth by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Percy, Wife of Charles, 6th Duke of Somerset by Michael Dahl")
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_and_his_Wife_Thomasine_Langston_Howard_-_(MeisterDrucke-1127302).jpg "The Artist Hugh Howard and His Wife, Thomasine Langston Howard by Michael Dahl")
_and_his_Wife_Thomasine_Langston_Howard_-_(MeisterDrucke-1127302).jpg)
_aged_78_c_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376936).jpg "Portrait of Francis, Viscount Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford (1620-1708), aged 78 by Michael Dahl")
_aged_78_c_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376936).jpg)
_holding_a_telescope_(long_view_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499422).jpg "Portrait of Captain Robert Harland, Holding a Telescope by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Dorothy Brudenell, Countess of Westmoreland by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Frances, Lady Byron, Third Wife of the 4th Lord Byron by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Elizabeth Grey, later Countess of Portsmouth by Michael Dahl")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500975).jpg "Sir James Wishart, late 17th to early 18th century by Michael Dahl")
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 c1711 - (MeisterDrucke-58547).jpg "Portrait of Bishop John Robinson, c.1711 by Michael Dahl")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-544103).jpg "Portrait of Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (1661-1715) by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Charlotte, Duchess of Somerset by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Carey Coke by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Queen Anne and her son William Duke of Gloucester by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Elizabeth Countess of Sandwich by Michael Dahl")
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 1st Duke of Marlborough c1702 - (MeisterDrucke-179640).jpg "John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough by Michael Dahl")
 1st Duke of Marlborough c1702 - (MeisterDrucke-179640).jpg)
 first Lord of - (MeisterDrucke-233213).jpg "Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford (1676-1745), First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer by Michael Dahl")
 first Lord of - (MeisterDrucke-233213).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1443481).jpg "Portrait of a Gentleman (Mr. Plumer or Plumiere) by Michael Dahl")
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_c1691-1721_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376565).jpg "Portrait of Orlando Bridgeman by Michael Dahl")
_c1691-1721_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376565).jpg)
 1st Duke of Chandos - (MeisterDrucke-584083).jpg "James Brydges (1673-1744) 1st Duke of Chandos by Michael Dahl")
 1st Duke of Chandos - (MeisterDrucke-584083).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Man by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Penelope, Lady Herbert by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Elizabeth Countess of Sandwich by Michael Dahl")
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_late_17th_to_early_18th_century_(oil_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499172).jpg "Rear-Admiral Sir William Whetstone by Michael Dahl")
_late_17th_to_early_18th_century_(oil_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499172).jpg)
.jpg "An Unknown Man by Michael Dahl")
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_c1705_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510868).jpg "Admiral Sir George Rooke (1650-1709), c.1705 by Michael Dahl")
_c1705_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510868).jpg)
_c1679-17_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376635).jpg "Portrait of Francis, 2nd Baron Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Henry, Viscount Newport, afterwards 3rd Earl of Bradford of the 1st creation by Michael Dahl")
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_Duchess_of_Devonshire_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1126843).jpg "Portrait of Rachel Russell Duchess of Devonshire by Michael Dahl")
_Duchess_of_Devonshire_(oil_on_canvas)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1126843).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Lady by Michael Dahl")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-78249).jpg "Prince George of Denmark by Michael Dahl")
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_wife_of_Francois_de_la_Rochefoucauld_-_(MeisterDrucke-317031).jpg "Portrait of Mary Anne Spanheim, Wife of Francois de la Rochefoucauld, Marquis de Montandre by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Thomas Sprat, 1683 by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Earl of Burlington, Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull, and Baron Berkeley of Stratton, 1690s by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "An Unknown Man by Michael Dahl")
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 engraved by Burnet Reading (fl 1776-1822) - (MeisterDrucke-69236).jpg "Portrait of James Brydges, first Duke of Chandos, engraved by Burnet Reading by Michael Dahl")
 engraved by Burnet Reading (fl 1776-1822) - (MeisterDrucke-69236).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of a Woman by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Man by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, 2nd Duchess of Portland by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Sir Cloudesley Shovell by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "John Gay, English poet and dramatist by Michael Dahl")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-62776).jpg "Portrait of Alexander Pope by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Queen Anne by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Thomas Sprat and son by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "An Unknown Man by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of Edward Coke by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough, engraved by W.T. Fry by Michael Dahl")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady by Michael Dahl")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499175).jpg "Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell by Michael Dahl")
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