Who painted Sophie Stramboe?

Sophie Stramboe was painted by David Monies in 1847.

Where can I see Sophie Stramboe?

Sophie Stramboe is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Sophie Stramboe?

Sophie Stramboe is associated with Biedermeier.

Artwork

Sophie Stramboe

David Monies , 1847

Sophie Stramboe is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist David Monies. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

David Monies painted the oil portrait titled Sophie Stramboe in 1847. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. It presents a single figure against an unadorned black backdrop, drawing immediate focus to the sitter’s face and attire.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas depicts a woman dressed in a dark, plain gown with a high‑necked collar and sheer sleeves edged in lace. She wears a large, ornamented hat crowned with flowers and ribbons, suggesting a degree of social standing or occasion, while her composed expression invites contemplation of her personal identity.

Technique & Style

Monies employs soft, graduated brushstrokes to model the illumination on the sitter’s skin, particularly around the neck and shoulders. The stark black background creates a chiaroscuro effect, heightening contrast and emphasizing the subtle play of light on flesh and fabric, a common device in mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑1840s, the portrait entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent Danish portraiture of the period, though specific details of its earlier ownership are not recorded in the available sources.