Artwork

Magnus Stenbock Surrenders the Fortress of Tønningen to Frederik IV in 1714

Magnus Stenbock Surrenders the Fortress of Tønningen to Frederik IV in 1714 is a photography by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1785, the canvas titled *Magnus Stenbock Surrenders the Fortress of Tønnenning to Frederik IV* is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work records a historic capitulation from the early eighteenth century, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes the gravity of the moment.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a kneeling officer in a blue‑yellow uniform, offering a document to a seated commander dressed in red and blue. The surrender gesture, accompanied by discarded armor and a helmet, conveys deference and the formal transfer of authority, while surrounding figures underscore the military context of the event.

Technique & Style

The painter employs muted earth tones—browns, grays, and subdued blues—to create a somber atmosphere. Light falls softly on the central figures, highlighting the paper and the uniforms’ details, while the background architecture and cloudy sky are rendered with loose brushwork that suggests depth without distracting from the focal interaction.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the artist identified only as 241_person, the painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its creation in the late eighteenth century reflects a retrospective interest in the Scandinavian conflicts of the early 1700s, particularly the 1714 surrender of Tønnenning.

Context

The surrender depicted marks the conclusion of a siege during the Great Northern War, when Swedish field marshal Magnus Stenbock yielded the fortress to Danish‑Norwegian king Frederik IV. The scene illustrates the formalities of military capitulation common in early modern Europe, where written agreements sealed the transfer of control.