Frederik Christian Lund was an accomplished academy-trained Danish painter predominantly known for landscapes, architecture, scenes and portraits.

It’s a study of light as much as it’s a study of form. Note the outline, vividly illuminated, while the headscarf is partially transparent. Lund was intelligent and handled this with confidence. It’s inscribed Haarlev, 1882, relating to a small rural town on the Danish island of Zealand.

Born in Copenhagen, Lund developed an advanced drawing ability at an early age, admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 12. It’s a remarkable achievement when you consider that in England, the youngest entrant to the Royal Academy was the great John Everett Millais (1829-1896), who enrolled at 11.

He trained there for ten years, at which point his education was interrupted following his conscription into the Danish Army. He served in the First Schleswig War and during this time continued to hone his skills by sketching numerous scenes involving battles. These were later translated into magazine illustrations. While away, he also had a work accepted into the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where he continued to exhibit until 1891 missing only a handful of years.

Following study trips to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and London, he visited the artist Carl Bloch in Rome and sought to become one of Denmark’s leading history painters. He refined his approach during this period and produced an array of exquisite works - returning to Italy around ten years later.

Throughout his career, he continually challenged himself to evolve as an artist. Never settling into a particular mode. In this respect, he’s different to many of his peers who, when confronted with regular commissions, continued in the same vein in an effort to please their patrons. 

His technique was underpinned by his acute ability as a draughtsman and this is exemplified in his depictions of architecture. When he approached a subject, he obsessed over the minutiae, creating exacting replicas of the scene before him. In this view of a Venetian backstreet, he practically painted every brick.

Venetian Street with a Monk Calling to a Lady (1870)

While in this precise rendering of the Roman Forum, the details are near-photographic.

Roman Forum (1884)

It could be said that he approached the human form with the same analytical eye - studying each nuance, fold of drapery, and subtle light effect.

In 1876, he was knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog. He’s represented at the Statens Museum for Kunst and the Aarhus Museum.

Exhibited

Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where he continued to exhibit until 1891 missing only a handful of years, Exposition Universelle in Paris, Vienna, Artists' Association.

Public Collections

Statens Museum for Kunst, Aarhus Museum among others.

Timeline

1826

Born in Copenhagen to Johan Christian Leske, a shoemaker, and Henriette Petersen.

1838

Enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

1848-1850

Served as a volunteer in the First Schleswig War.

1849

Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition where he continued to exhibit until 1891 missing only a handful of years.

Assisted in the decoration of the Thorvaldsen Museum.

1852

Awarded a silver medal by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

1853

Awarded the Neuhausen Prize.

1854-1860

Painted a series of watercolours depicting Danish folk costumes, which were reproduced, with much success, as colour lithographs.

1859

Undertook a study trip to Paris.
Married Axeline Mørch in Frederiksberg. 

1862-1864

Undertook a study trip to Brussels, Amsterdam, and London. Also spending time with Carl Bloch in Rome.

1874-1875

Undertook a study trip to Italy.

1876

Knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog following his work for the ceiling of Viborg Cathedral.

1878

Shown at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

1882

Shown in Vienna.
Shown at the Artists' Association

1901

Died in Frederiksberg.