The twin brothers Bernhard and Emil Österman were among the leading society portraitists of early 20th-century Sweden. They were both brilliant colourists and showed great skill in rendering costume and accessories. Here, Bernhard Österman avoids the monotony of the uniformed portrait by emphasising the bright red background, the brilliant gold trim and the light-blue ribbon of the Order of the Seraphim. The painting later served as a model for the label on the Kung Gustaf brand of sardines.