Negro was painted by Konrad Sparre in 1719.

Where can I see Negro?

Negro is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Negro?

Negro is associated with Barbizon school.

Artwork

Negro

Konrad Sparre , 1719

Negro is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Konrad Sparre. It dates from 1719 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Konrad Sparre’s 1719 oil painting titled Negro portrays a seated figure of African descent in a white shirt, surrounded by a small menagerie.

Konrad Sparre’s 1719 oil painting titled Negro portrays a seated figure of African descent in a white shirt, surrounded by a small menagerie. The composition includes a monkey perched on the man’s shoulder, a parrot on the bench, and a suspended cage holding two birds. Set before a wall and a column, the work conveys a tranquil domestic scene and is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a dark‑skinned man, is rendered with a neutral expression, suggesting a moment of quiet observation rather than narrative drama. The inclusion of exotic animals—monkey, parrot, and caged birds—reflects contemporary European fascination with the ‘exotic’ and may allude to themes of curiosity, trade, or the juxtaposition of humanity and nature within a cultivated interior.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, Sparre employs a restrained palette of muted earth tones contrasted with the vivid plumage of the parrot and birds. The brushwork is smooth, emphasizing the polished surfaces of clothing and furnishings, while the animals receive finer detailing, highlighting texture and feather. The balanced arrangement and clear spatial recession create a calm, orderly atmosphere typical of early‑18th‑century portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in 1719, the painting entered the holdings of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Documentation traces its acquisition to the museum’s early 20th‑century collection efforts, though earlier ownership records are scarce, suggesting it may have circulated among private collectors before entering public custody.

Context

The work emerges from a period when European artists frequently depicted individuals of African origin alongside exotic fauna, reflecting both the expansion of global trade routes and the era’s curiosity about foreign cultures. Sparre’s composition aligns with contemporary genre scenes that blend portraiture with still‑life elements, offering insight into the social attitudes and aesthetic preferences of the early Enlightenment.