Artwork
To danske fregatter i en storm signalerer med hinanden
To danske fregatter i en storm signalerer med hinanden is an oil painting by Jacob Petersen. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Petersen’s 1833 oil on canvas, titled *To danske fregatter i en storm signalerer med hinanden*, portrays two Danish warships locked in a tempestuous sea.
Jacob Petersen’s 1833 oil on canvas, titled *To danske fregatter i en storm signalerer med hinanden*, portrays two Danish warships locked in a tempestuous sea. The composition captures the vessels exchanging signals amid towering waves and a brooding sky, emphasizing the perilous conditions faced by naval crews in the early nineteenth century. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on the moment when the frigates communicate through signal flags while battling a fierce storm. This scene underscores themes of solidarity and resilience, suggesting that even in chaotic natural forces, coordinated effort and shared purpose enable survival. The dramatic weather serves as a metaphor for the uncertainties confronting maritime nations during the era.
Technique & Style
Petersen employs a vigorous brushstroke to convey the churning sea, while the rigging and sails are rendered with meticulous attention to detail. A limited palette of muted blues, grays, and ochres heightens the atmospheric tension, and strategic highlights on the hulls and flags draw the eye toward the central act of signaling. The overall effect balances realism with expressive dynamism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1833, the canvas entered the holdings of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s national gallery, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving works that document the nation’s naval heritage and 19th‑century artistic responses to maritime subjects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
To danske fregatter i en storm signalerer med hinanden
Fregat i en storm med rebede undersejl
Fregatten "Nymphen" i en storm i året 1832
Fregatten "Nymphen" i en storm i året 1832
Fregat i en storm med rebede undersejl
Et skib i storm på Atlanterhavet
Et dampskib i en storm i Atlanterhavet
En dansk korvet i rum sø efter en storm
Skibe som morgenen efter en storm klarer landet for sig
