This early 20th-century oil painting by Danish artist Christian Asmussen (1873-1940) depicts a historic riverside cityscape.

Shimmering in lustrous tints, a broad waterway extends beyond a distant bridge - golden shadows from stepped gables darken the ripples. Several steeples, which conspicuously emerge in stone and copper, punctuate the skyline. The industry on the nearside stands dormant.

Asmussen was well-travelled so it’s tricky to place the view. It’s possibly somewhere along the Danube as he visited Austria around the time it was completed. During his formative years, he worked in various European cities as a decorative painter and maintained a keen sense of adventure throughout his life.

Signed in the lower left and held within a gilt frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 38½” x 30½” / 98cm x 78cm
Year of creation: c. 1920
Condition: Artwork presents well. Recently cleaned. Frame with some age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £9,036

Christian Asmussen

Christian Asmussen was a versatile Danish artist who spent the early part of his career decorating the finest theatres in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria before returning to Denmark to hone his skills as a landscape painter. During his formative years, he trained under Soren Lund and also at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich - later exhibiting across Europe including at the illustrious Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition. His works are often informal with loose brushwork and spacious compositions. He received a medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

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