Artwork

Police Surgeon Johan Frederik Rost. The Artist's Family Doctor and Friend

Police Surgeon Johan Frederik Rost. The Artist's Family Doctor and Friend is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

This 1831 oil painting by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg portrays Police Surgeon Johan Frederik Rost, the artist's family doctor and friend, set against a plain black background.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Johan Frederik Rost, is depicted in a serious, contemplative manner, emphasizing his professional and personal connection to the artist through subtle, nuanced expression.

Technique & Style

Eckersberg employs smooth, even brushstrokes and utilizes chiaroscuro, contrasting light and dark to highlight Rost's face, characteristic of the neoclassical period's emphasis on clarity and form.

History & Provenance

Part of the Statens Museum for Kunst's collection, this portrait reflects Eckersberg's influence as a foundational figure of the Golden Age of Danish Painting.

Artist & collection

Artist

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (2 January 1783 – 22 July 1853) was a Danish painter.

Museum

Statens Museum for Kunst

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