Swedish portrait painter. In about 1740 he settled in Copenhagen, where he became court painter and director of the Academy, but he left for Stockholm in 1772 because of strained relations between Denmark and Sweden. He continued his success in his home country, working for the royal family and becoming director of the Academy. Pilo's best-known work is the huge Coronation of Gustavus III (begun 1782, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm); although it was left unfinished at his death. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Swedish painting. Pilo's style was characterized by nervously sensitive drawing and refined colouring in a personal Rococo vein. //