Artwork

Dameportræt

Dameportræt, by Johan Hörner, oil, 1751
Dameportræt, by Johan Hörner, oil, 1751

Dameportræt is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Johan Hörner. It dates from 1751 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Johan Hörner’s 1751 oil painting, titled *Dameportræt*, is part of the collection at Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The work presents a solitary female figure rendered against a dark backdrop, her attire and posture suggesting a formal portrait typical of mid‑eighteenth‑century European art.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is depicted in an elaborate blue gown trimmed with lace, a red cloak draped over her shoulder, and a modest white cap. Her hair is neatly pulled back, conveying a sense of composure and status. While no explicit narrative accompanies the image, the careful attention to dress and bearing implies the portrait’s function as a record of personal identity and social rank.

Technique & Style

Hörner employs a pronounced chiaroscuro effect, allowing a focused light source to illuminate the woman’s face and upper garments while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This handling of light creates a subtle modeling of the skin and fabric, giving the figure a three‑dimensional presence within the flat plane of the canvas.

History & Provenance

Created in 1751, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to acquisition is not documented in the available records, limiting knowledge of the original patron or the sitter’s identity.

Artist & collection

Artist

Johan Hörner

Johan Hörner (1711–1763) was an artist, born in Edebo.