Artwork
Dameportræt, kaldet frøken Sneedorf
Dameportræt, kaldet frøken Sneedorf is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Peder Als. It dates from 1758 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1758, this oil portrait by Danish painter Peder Als depicts a young woman in a simple, unadorned setting. The canvas is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed among other 18th‑century works. The composition centers on the sitter’s face, emphasizing her calm demeanor and refined features.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents an unidentified lady, traditionally referred to as frøken Sneedorf, dressed in a modest gown with a bow at the neckline and a modest hat. The plain background eliminates distractions, directing attention to her serene expression and the subtle elegance of her attire, suggesting a focus on personal virtue rather than social status.
Technique & Style
Als employed the oil medium to achieve a smooth, lifelike rendering of skin tones and fabric textures. Careful modeling of light across the face creates a gentle chiaroscuro, while the restrained palette and fine brushwork convey a quiet realism characteristic of mid‑18th‑century Danish portraiture.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, though its exact provenance before that remains undocumented. Its attribution to Peder Als, a court painter active in the 1750s, is supported by stylistic analysis and contemporary records linking the artist to similar commissions.
Artist & collection
Portrait of Countess Eleonora Agnes Scheel, neé Raben
Ærkeenglen Raphael
Den hellige Barbara
Portrait of Christian VII, King of Denmark
Anna Cathrine Hauch, født von der Maase
Materialforvalter Bartholin (?)
The Court Jeweller Christopher Fabritius and his Wife Gundel, née Berntz
Dronning Semiramis som sværger ikke at ville rede sit hår før hun har underkuet et oprør
