The Panther Hunter
J.A. Jerichau1845-1846
SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst
Copenhagen, Denmark
The hunter is raising his spear to administer the fatal blow. The struggle and violent discharge of energy is represented through a dynamic composition and a very naturalistic depiction of man and animal. Naturally, the dramatic moment is frozen in time, and spectators are called upon to complete the action themselves.
Thorvaldsen's ideal
Like most Danish artists of the first half of the 19th century, J.A. Jerichau spent some time in Rome. Very symbolically, he arrived on the frigate sent to bring Thorvaldsen’s collections back to Denmark. Jerichau’s ambitions soon took him in directions other than the neoclassical restraint that was Bertel Thorvaldsen’s (1770-1844) ideal – and the ideal of the times.
Depicting motion and specific moments
As The Panther Hunter clearly demonstrates, classical calm and quiet did not interest Jerichau. He was more interested in depicting motion and specific moments in time with scenes packed with action and extrovert emotions.
Jerichau's internatioal breakthrough
The Panther Hunter gave Jerichau his international breakthrough, bringing in several prestigious commissions from Denmark and abroad. In Denmark he was appointed professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and also served as its director for extended periods of time. Jerichau’s international outlook eventually set him on a collision course with the trend-setting Danish art circles who did not share his openness to international art trends.
- Title: The Panther Hunter
- Creator: J.A. Jerichau
- Creator Lifespan: 17-04-1816 Assens - 24-07-1883 Neder Draaby
- Creator Nationality: Danish
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Death Place: Neder Draaby
- Creator Birth Place: Assens
- Date Created: 1845-1846
- Værktekst: Jægeren har hævet spyddet for at give panteren det dræbende stød. Kampen og den voldsomme udladning skildres gennem en dynamisk komposition og en meget naturalistisk gengivelse af menneske og dyr. Men det dramatiske øjeblik er frosset, og beskueren må selv fuldføre handlingen. Thorvaldsens og tidens ideal Som de fleste danske kunstnere i første halvdel af 1800-tallet rejste J.A. Jerichau til Rom. Meget symbolsk ankom han med den fregat, som var sendt ned for at bringe Bertel Thorvaldsens (1770-1844) samlinger til Danmark. Jerichaus ambitioner bragte ham nemlig ret hurtigt i andre retninger end det nyklassicistiske tempererede mådehold, der var Thorvaldsens og tidens ideal. Bevægelsen og det øjebliksbetonede Som Panterjægeren tydeligt viser, var det ikke den klassiske ro, der interesserede Jerichau. Han var mere optaget af at skildre bevægelse og det øjebliksbetonede i handlingsmættede motiver med et udadvendt følelsesregister. Jerichaus internationale gennembrud Panterjægeren gav Jerichau et internationalt gennembrud, og med det fulgte adskillige prestigefyldte bestillingsopgaver fra ind- og udland. I Danmark blev han både professor ved Kunstakademiet og i flere omgange dets direktør. Jerichaus internationale orientering bragte ham efterhånden på kollisionskurs med det toneangivende danske kunstmiljø, der ikke havde den samme åbenhed over for periodens internationale kunst.
- Teknik: Bronze
- Proveniens: Gave fra brygger J.C. Jacobsen 1883
- Provenance: Acquired 1883
- Physical Dimensions: w105 x h209.5 x d65 cm (Without frame)
- Dansk link: http://www.smk.dk/index.php?id=1189
- Dansk Titel: Panterjægeren
- Type: Statue
- Rights: Statens Museum for Kunst, http://www.smk.dk/en/copyright/creative-commons/
- Medium: Bronze
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