Artwork
Den hollandske flåde under admiral Opdam passerer Sundet d. 29. oktober 1658 under Svenskekrigen 1657-60
Den hollandske flåde under admiral Opdam passerer Sundet d. 29. oktober 1658 under Svenskekrigen 1657-60 is an oil painting by the Realist artist Frederik Christian Lund. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Frederik Christian Lund’s 1872 oil painting records a naval episode from the mid‑seventeenth century, when the Dutch fleet under Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam passed through the Øresund on 29 October 1658. Executed in a realist style, the work combines meticulous detail with a broad landscape that includes the silhouette of Kronborg Castle on the horizon.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures a moment of the Swedish‑Danish conflict (1657‑60), juxtaposing the Dutch fleet with Swedish monarch Charles X Gustav observing the passage. Soldiers in period uniforms, artillery pieces, and fluttering standards populate the foreground, underscoring the strategic importance of the strait and the interplay of naval power and fortifications.
Technique & Style
Lund employs a tight, observational approach characteristic of 19th‑century realism, rendering textures of fabric, wood, and stone with precise brushwork. The composition balances a bustling foreground of troops and cannons with a spacious sky dotted with clouds, while the distant ships and castle are softened to convey atmospheric depth.
History & Provenance
Created late in Lund’s career, the painting reflects his interest in documenting historical costumes and events. It entered the national collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century historical genre works.
Context
The depicted passage occurred during the Dano‑Swedish War, a period when control of the Øresund was crucial for trade and military movements. Kronborg Castle, a key fortification at the narrowest point of the strait, served both as a defensive stronghold and a symbol of Danish sovereignty.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederik Christian Lund (14 February 1826 – 31 October 1901), commonly known as F. C. Lund, was a Danish genre and history painter. He is also remembered for his illustrations of traditional Danish regional costumes in the mid 19th century.
