Artwork
Hedevig Margrethe Thomsen, f. Jürgensen. Museumsmanden C.J. Thomsens moder
Hedevig Margrethe Thomsen, f. Jürgensen. Museumsmanden C.J. Thomsens moder is an oil painting by David Monies. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
David Monies painted Hedevig Margrethe Thomsen, f. Jürgensen, also known as C.J. Thomsens moder, in 1860. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures a modest size and is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The portrait presents a solitary figure rendered against a muted gray backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s attire and demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a woman dressed in a dark, richly folded gown, cinched at the waist with a simple belt. She wears a large, elaborately trimmed hat crowned by a substantial bow and frilly edges, while her dark, curly hair peeks from beneath. Her gaze meets the viewer directly, yet her expression remains inscrutable, inviting contemplation of her personal identity and social role.
Technique & Style
Monies employs a restrained palette, allowing the deep tones of the dress and hat to dominate. Careful modeling of folds and creases conveys the texture of the fabric, while the smooth, unadorned gray background isolates the figure. The brushwork balances fine detail in the accessories with broader, softer strokes in the skin, reflecting mid‑nineteenth‑century portrait conventions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1860, the portrait entered the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s national gallery, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the sitter’s family, identified as the mother of C.J. Thomsen, linking the work to a specific domestic lineage within Danish society.
Artist & collection
