The imperial court painter Martin van Meytens painted this portrait of Carl Hårleman while visiting Stockholm in 1730-1731. The latter had recently returned from studies in Rome. He holds a portfolio of drawings in one hand, and in the background we see Trajan’s Column and the Pyramid of Cestius. After the death of Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, Hårleman became the main architect in charge of works at the Royal Palace.