A museum-quality mid-19th-century portrait of a gentleman by Danish painter, Christian Vilhelm Schenstrøm (1828-1876).

It’s staggering to think that Schenstrøm painted this exquisite piece at just 30 years old. He was clearly a master of his craft. Here we see a gentleman dressed in a black jacket, white shirt, and black bow tie. He’s resting a top hat on his left arm and sports a magnificent set of sideburns. The details are extraordinary.

Schenstrøm was a specialist and only exhibited portraits. He became popular after painting the actor, N.P. Nielsen, who was well-known at the time. But like many flames that flicker early, his success was short-lived as he became partially sighted in his mid-30s. He rarely painted thereafter.

Schenstrøm trained at the Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.

The painting is signed/dated in the lower right and housed within a gilded frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 36” x 44” / 91cm x 111cm
Year of creation: c. 1858
Provenance: Denmark
Condition: Very presentable following a light restoration. Areas of craquelure but the paint layer is stable. Frame with some age-related wear.