Artwork
Jean Holm, inhabitant at Bombebøssen, a Shelter for Poor Seamen
Jean Holm, inhabitant at Bombebøssen, a Shelter for Poor Seamen is an oil painting by the Realist artist Constantin Hansen. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.
About this work
Overview
In 1851, Danish painter Constantin Hansen rendered a portrait of Jean Holm, a resident of Bombebøssen, a charitable shelter for destitute seamen in Copenhagen. Executed in oil, the work presents Holm from the chest upward, his gaze directed toward the viewer. The composition is set against a dark background that isolates the figure and emphasizes his facial features and attire.
Subject & Meaning
Jean Holm is depicted wearing a red hat and jacket over a white shirt, garments that suggest a connection to maritime life. His expression is calm and contemplative, conveying a quiet dignity that reflects the artist’s interest in the everyday lives of ordinary people, particularly those linked to the city’s seafaring community.
Technique & Style
Hansen employs a restrained palette and chiaroscuro to model Holm’s form, using light to bring out the texture of the clothing and the subtle tones of his face. The realist approach, honed under the influence of art historian Niels Laurits Høyen, focuses on careful observation and a faithful representation of the sitter’s character.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created during Hansen’s mature period, when he balanced historical and mythological subjects with contemporary genre scenes. It now belongs to the Nationalmuseum, where it is displayed as part of the collection documenting Denmark’s Golden Age of Painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin Hansen) (3 November 1804 – 29 March 1880) was one of the painters associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting.
The Actor Kristian Mantzius
Self-Portrait
The Painter Christen Købke
Portræt af en gammel sømand
Self-Portrait
Portrait of Marcin Pade (1765–1846)
Portrait of Wiktor Grajewski, the last border judge in Samogitia
Portræt af en gammel sømand
Studie eines Männerkopfes
Habitant with Blue Tuque and Pipe
Portrait of an Old Sailor
The Painter Christen Købke