Artwork

Portrait of Inger Margrethe Høyen, née Schrøder, the Mother of the Art Historian N.L. Høyen

Portrait of Inger Margrethe Høyen, née Schrøder, the Mother of the Art Historian N.L. Høyen is an unspecified painting by the Biedermeier artist Unknown. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1832, this oil portrait presents Inger Margrethe Høy en, née Schrøder, an elderly woman in her seventies or eighties.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1832, this oil portrait presents Inger Margrethe Høy en, née Schrøder, an elderly woman in her seventies or eighties. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It records the mother of the prominent Danish art historian N.L. Høyen, offering a personal glimpse into the family background of a key figure in 19th‑century art scholarship.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is depicted with a gentle, introspective demeanor; her eyes are lowered, suggesting contemplation or modesty. A white bonnet and a light scarf with blue‑red stripes frame her curly white hair, while a dark dress anchors the composition. The portrait emphasizes age and dignity, highlighting the matriarchal role within a cultural milieu that valued familial lineage.

Technique & Style

The artist employs chiaroscuro to model the face, allowing light to illuminate the wrinkles and age spots against a darker background, thereby creating a three‑dimensional presence. Soft brushwork renders the skin’s texture realistically, while the fabric folds are suggested with delicate tonal shifts, reflecting a restrained yet skillful approach typical of early‑19th‑century Danish portraiture.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the painter identified as 1117_person, the portrait entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings after a series of private transfers linked to the Høyen family. Its documentation dates back to the early 20th century, and the work has remained in the museum’s collection, serving both as an artwork and as a historical record of the Høyen lineage.