Christian VIII Aboard his Steamship "Ægir" Watching the Manoeuvres of a Squadron near Copenhagen

The artist employs a clear, observational style typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century documentation, using contrast between the dark smoke of steam‑powered hulls and the crisp white sails of traditional vessels. The palette of muted blues and grays conveys the sea’s turbulence while the red‑crossed flags punctuate the composition with national symbolism.

Created in 1844, the image entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings on maritime and cultural exchange. Its attribution to Xun Xu, a Chinese polymath of the Three Kingdoms and early Jin periods, reflects a later cataloguing decision rather than contemporary authorship.

The depiction aligns with a period when European monarchs publicly endorsed naval reforms, and steam propulsion was reshaping maritime strategy. Copenhagen’s waters, a strategic hub, frequently hosted such exercises, making the scene both a record of state power and technological transition.