Christen Købke: 7 works

'Købke spent most of his childhood at the Citadel in Copenhagen where his father was a baker.'

'His art did not win true recognition until 30-40 years after his death.'

'Technically, Købke battled with this painting, yet it bears the happy imprint of the "lighter moments" to which he alludes in a letter to his sister. As a pupil of Eckersberg he has complete control of the perspective of the painting, and it is evident what an exciting colourist Købke was.'

'In 1833 Købke moved with his parents to Blegdammen by the Sortedam Lake, then located outside of Copenhagen proper. In the years that followed he found many of his motifs by the lake.'

'Købke leaned on his preliminary studies, but he tightened up the composition and all its lines, ranging from the lakeshore to the flagpole.'

'Christen Schjellerup Købke drew the architectural remains of the forum with sharp precision, giving the painting a sense of order and clarity.'

'After the death of Købke's father in 1843 Købke stayed at Blegdammen for two years until his mother had to sell the property in 1845. In all likelihood it was around this time that Købke began painting the farmhouse itself.'