Bertel Thorvaldsen

Thorvaldsen was the great idol in the Danish art world when, in the summer of 1813, Eckersberg followed in his footsteps and travelled to Rome. In the portrait of the great master the young Eckersberg makes no attempt to hide his admiration for the sculptor, who had made Danish art known in Italy. In the background is the Alexander Frieze, one of Thorvaldsen’s major works. We see Alexander’s triumph, which, in Eckersberg’s own words, is “also Herr Thorvaldsen’s triumph”. His previous years of study with David in Paris combined with the period in Italy with Thorvaldsen were to prove the optimal ingredients in the creation of an individual style of painting known subsequently as “Danish Golden Age”. This painting is Eckersberg´s 3rd version.