Artwork
Den politiske Kandestøber, II akt, 2. scene
Den politiske Kandestøber, II akt, 2. scene is an oil painting by Christian August Lorentzen. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Christian August Lorentzen’s 1819 oil on canvas, titled *Den politiske Kandestøber, II akt, 2. scene*, portrays a nocturnal gathering centered on a wooden table. The composition captures a moment of heated conversation within a modest interior illuminated by a single source of light, casting deep shadows across the participants and the surrounding furnishings.
Subject & Meaning
The work visualises the episode known as “The Political Tinker,” a scene drawn from contemporary political satire. Figures are arranged around the table, their gestures and expressions suggesting debate and tension, reflecting the contentious public discourse of early‑19th‑century Denmark.
Technique & Style
Lorentzen employs chiaroscuro to heighten the drama, juxtaposing a bright, focused illumination against enveloping darkness. The brushwork is vigorous and expressive, lending a kinetic quality to the figures and emphasizing the emotional intensity of the exchange.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1819, the painting entered the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving works that document the nation’s cultural and political history.
Context
The early 1800s in Denmark were marked by political upheaval and the rise of public pamphleteering. Lorentzen’s depiction of a politically charged gathering aligns with broader European trends in genre painting that used everyday scenes to comment on societal issues.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian August Lorentzen (1749–1828) was an artist, born in Sønderborg.
A Troup of Performers Arriving at the Fair at Dyrehavsbakken Near the Deer Park, North of Copenhagen
Den danske Comedies Ligbegængelse, 5. scene
The Legend of the Danish Flag (the Dannebrog) Falling from the Heavens during the Battle of Lyndanise in Estonia in 1219
To ynglinge med en hund
Portrait of Count Rzewuski, Polish Ambassador to Denmark
Kristus og synderinden
The Most Terrible Night. View of Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen During the English Bombardement of Copenhagen at Night between 4 and 5 September 1807
Mandsportræt
Den politiske Kandestøber, II akt, 2. scene
Den Stundesløse, I akt, 6. scene
Den Stundesløse, I akt, 6. scene
Collegium Politicum. From Ludvig Holberg’s The Political Tinker, Act I, Scene 2.
Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene
Den pantsatte Bondedreng, II akt, 8. scene
Den elvte Juni, V. akt, 1. scene
Den Vægelsindede, II akt, 16. scene
Den elvte Juni, V. akt, 1. scene
Pernilles korte Frøkenstand, III akt, 7. scene
Republikken eller Det gemene Bedste, III akt, 10. scene
Republikken eller Det gemene Bedste, III akt, 10. scene