A fine 19th-century Danish oil painting depicting a beautiful view across farm buildings towards distant hills. The details are exquisite and the artist has captured the light with a high degree of skill.
The painting is unsigned but it's very close in style to the artist, Frederik Christian Jakobsen Kiaerskou (1805-1891) who is known to have painted this view. It’s also possible that it's by a painter within his circle, however, given the quality of the composition and the tight brushwork, the artist has certainly been academy trained.
Note how the figure on the cart is leaning backwards to balance as he travels on the track. And also how the artist has picked out reflections with a few careful marks.
Kiaerskou was trained by the well-known landscape painter, Jens Peter Møller (1783-1854), and later became a member of the Royal Danish Art Academy. In 1963, he was commissioned to paint a depiction of Bernstorff Castle for Princess Alexandra of Denmark to celebrate her marriage to Edward VII.
The painting is inscribed on the reverse and housed within a period gilded frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 19½” x 15½” / 50cm x 40cm
Year of creation: c. 1850
Provenance: Denmark
Condition: Areas of light craquelure. Frame with some knocks and general wear including losses to its gilding.
Artist’s auction highlight: £12,000 achieved at Christie’s in 2011 for ‘A view towards Sorø Academy’.