The Artist’s Studio in Nyhavn, Copenhagen, c. 1840
Oil on canvas laid down on panel, H. 0.34 m; W. 0.41 m
Inscribed on the reverse: n°5 / H S Hammer : Kunstnerens Atelier / Nyhavn
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Spejlinger i gips, exh. cat. Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi, Billedkunstskolerne og Danmarks Kunstbibliotek, Samlingen af Arkitekturtegninger, 22 September – 7 November 2004, p. 80 (ill.).
This fine painting represents the studio of the artist at “Nyhavn” (the new harbour) with a view of the Christian Church and a ship on the channel. It is, as far as the motif is concerned, similar to Martinus Rørbye painting A view from the home of the artist, about 1825 (Statens Museum for Kunst – the Danish National Gallery). Furthermore, there is a certain similarity to Wilhelm Bendz’s: Interior from Amaliegade with the brothers of the artist, around 1829 (The Hirschsprung Collection). Also in these two paintings a number of personal items, hinting at the life and work of the artist, appear.
Hans Jørgen Hammer’s talent is reflected here in the work’s precise execution and line, the mastery of its perspective and the refined and subtle use of color.