Artwork
At a Coppersmith’s Workshop
At a Coppersmith’s Workshop is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Christian Andreas Schleisner. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Christian Andreas Schleisner’s oil painting *At a Coppersmith’s Workshop* was executed in 1859 and is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The work presents an interior scene of a metal‑working shop, populated by several figures engaged in everyday tasks, rendered in a warm, earthy palette that emphasizes the modest, utilitarian setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition gathers a male artisan in a brown apron, a woman with a basket, and three young boys, suggesting a familial or apprenticeship atmosphere within the workshop. The presence of tools, a hammer, and a large metal slab on the floor underscores the labor‑intensive nature of coppersmithing, while the casual interaction among the figures hints at the social dimensions of craft production in a 19th‑century rural context.
Technique & Style
The spatial arrangement, with figures positioned across the foreground, creates depth while maintaining a clear view of the workshop’s interior.
Schleisner employs a restrained yet detailed oil technique, balancing chiaroscuro with a palette of golden metal tones and muted earth colors. The brushwork conveys the texture of metal, wood, and fabric without excessive flourish, allowing the viewer to focus on the scene’s realism. The spatial arrangement, with figures positioned across the foreground, creates depth while maintaining a clear view of the workshop’s interior.
History & Provenance
Created in 1859, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings at an unspecified later date, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in 19th‑century Danish genre painting, documenting everyday life and occupational scenes that were popular among contemporary audiences.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Andreas Schleisner (1810–1882) was an artist, born in Kongens Lyngby Parish.
I en kobbersmeds værksted
Peasant Interior
Reservesoldatens afsked med sin familie
Woman Baking Pancakes
En fattig kone der venter på et krus øl i en bondestue
Episode af et gilde på Amager
In a peasant cottage
Genre scene – a hurdy-gurdy player in front of a cottage
Interior with peasants from the region of Amager
Hunter's Dwelling
Travellers by a well
Ahvenanmaalaisia miehiä pelaamassa korttia kajuutassa (Ristiässä)