Artwork

Professor dr. med. J.D. Herholdt

Professor dr. med. J.D. Herholdt, by Christian Albrecht Jensen, oil, 1835
Professor dr. med. J.D. Herholdt, by Christian Albrecht Jensen, oil, 1835

Professor dr. med. J.D. Herholdt is an oil painting by Christian Albrecht Jensen. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Professor dr.

About this work

Overview

Professor dr. med. J.D. Herholdt is an 1835 oil painting by Christian Albrecht Jensen, a prominent Danish portraitist of the Danish Golden Age. The work portrays Johan Daniel Herholdt, a distinguished medical professor of the time.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Johan Daniel Herholdt, is depicted in a contemplative pose, with a medal on his chest, signifying his academic or professional achievements. The composition focuses attention on the sitter, implying his importance and character.

Technique & Style

Jensen employed subtle chiaroscuro, evident in the nuanced shading around Herholdt's eyes and jaw, to create depth and dimensionality in the portrait. The overall style is characteristic of early 19th-century portraiture, with a plain background emphasizing the subject.

History & Provenance

Created in 1835, the painting is now part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, testifying to its significance within Danish artistic and historical heritage.

Context

Part of Jensen's extensive portfolio of over 400 portraits of prominent figures, this work reflects the artist's role in documenting the intellectual and professional elite of the Danish Golden Age.

Legacy

While specific impact on broader art movements is not highlighted, the painting remains a valuable representation of Jensen's portraiture skills and the era's aesthetic, preserved for posterity in a national museum.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Christian Albrecht Jensen

Artist

Christian Albrecht Jensen

Christian Albrecht Jensen (26 June 1792 – 13 July 1870) was a Danish painter who specialised in portrait painting and was active during the Danish Golden Age.