Artwork

Peder Anker med hustru og datter

Peder Anker med hustru og datter, by Jens Juel, oil, 1796
Peder Anker med hustru og datter, by Jens Juel, oil, 1796

Peder Anker med hustru og datter is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jens Juel. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Peder Anker med hustru og datter is an 18th-century oil painting by Jens Juel, depicting Norwegian-Danish statesman Peder Anker with his family.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays Peder Anker, a prominent statesman, in a domestic setting with his wife and daughter, conveying a sense of familial intimacy alongside his professional presence, symbolized by the paper he holds.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, the work adheres to neoclassical principles, characterized by its classical composition, subdued color palette (notably the dominant whites and darks), and realistic depiction of the subjects.

History & Provenance

Created in 1796, the painting is now part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, highlighting its significance within Danish art heritage.

Context

As a product of the neoclassical movement, the painting reflects the era's emphasis on morality, simplicity, and classical ideals, contrasting with the more expressive tendencies of contemporaneous Romanticism.

Legacy

While specific lasting impacts of *Peder Anker med hustru og datter* on the broader art world are not prominently documented, it remains a notable example of Jens Juel's portraiture skill and the neoclassical style in Scandinavian art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jens Juel

Artist

Jens Juel

Jens Juel (12 May 1745 – 27 December 1802) was a Danish painter, primarily known for his many portraits, of which the largest collection is on display at Frederiksborg Castle.