Artwork
Billede af livet i en sjællandsk bondegård ved middagstid
Billede af livet i en sjællandsk bondegård ved middagstid is an oil painting by the Realist artist Peter Julius Larsen. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Peter Julius Larsen’s 1852 oil on canvas, titled *Billede af livet i en sjællandsk bondegård ved middagstid*, portrays a midsummer farmyard on the Danish island of Zealand. The composition captures a bright midday scene under a clear blue sky, with modest farm structures, trees, and a small group of figures engaged in everyday tasks. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts rural life in mid‑19th‑century Denmark, focusing on ordinary activities such as feeding livestock, carrying baskets, and social interaction among farm workers. Dressed in traditional attire, the figures convey a sense of community and routine, emphasizing the simplicity and self‑sufficiency of agrarian society at that time.
Technique & Style
Larsen employs a palette that balances warm, earthy hues for the buildings and cool, luminous tones for the sky, creating depth through contrasting temperature. Visible brushwork adds texture to surfaces, while careful modulation of light and shadow suggests the midday sun’s direct illumination. The overall handling is straightforward, favoring clear representation over elaborate detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1852, the canvas entered the national collection of Denmark and is now housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting Danish rural scenes and the work of mid‑century Danish painters who recorded everyday life with a realistic eye.
Artist & collection
