Jens Juel (b. Balslev, Funen 1745, d. Copenhagen 1802)

Jens Juel (b. Balslev, Funen 1745, d. Copenhagen 1802)

A pair of portraits of respectively captain and wine merchant Lorentz Petersen (1763–1829) and wife Sophie Magdalene (Lorentz) Petersen, née Worm (1764–1832). He: Half-length facing right. Grey-blue jacket with traces of powder on the collar, yellowish waistcoat, white collar, pleated frill, grey-blue eyes. She: Half-length facing left. White dress, red shawl, white scarf tucked into a light violet silk belt, short, curly, slightly greyish hair, red cheeks and dark blue eyes. Both late 1790s. Unsigned. Oil on canvas. Oval. 68×53 cm. (2).

Ellen Poulsen, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of Jens Juel, 1991, no. 713 and 714, illustrated vol. II, p. 456.

Exhibited: Kunstakademiet, Udstilling “i anledning i Hs. Majestæt Kong Christian den Ottendes og Hds. Majestæt Dronning Caroline Amalies höie Kroningsfest”, 1840 no. 127. Kunstforeningen, “Udstilling af Malerier, af ældre og yngre danske Kunstnere, hvoraf Indtægten er bestemt til Anvendelse ved Frederiksborg Slots Gjenopførelse”, 1860 no. 169 and 170. Foreningen Fremtiden, ”Udstilling af ældre danske Malerier og Bronzestatuetter”, Charlottenborg, 1869 no. 20 and 21. Nivaagaards Malerisamling, ”Hos Hofvinhandleren i Store Strandstræde”, 1985 no. 3 and 4, illustrated in the exhibition catalogue p. 48.

Literature: Ejner Johansen, ”Wilhelm Bendz”, 1995, mentioned p. 74 in connection with Wilhelm Bendz' painting ”Familien Waagepetersen” (The Waagepetersen Family). Klaus P. Mortensen, ”Wilhelm Bendz”, Dansk Klassikerkunst, 2001, mentioned p. 36 (same as above). Den Hirschsprungske Samling, ”Wilhelm Bendz – Et ungt kunstnerliv”, exhibition catalogue 1996, mentioned p. 104 (same as above).

Provenance: Inherited in the family of those portrayed until today.

Lorentz Petersen (1763–1829) was the son of smallholder Petersen and came from Langeland. Sophie Magdalene Petersen (1763–1832) was the daughter of merchant Worm in Birkerød and his wife Karen Christina Wied. After the early death of both parents, Sophie Magdalene came into the care of councillor Christian Nielsen Waage, who lived in Store Kongensgade in Copenhagen. He was a wine merchant and shipowner who imported sugar from the West Indies. Lorentz Petersen was employed by Christian Waage, and here he met Sophie Magadelene, whom he married in 1787. Lorentz and Sophie Magdalene had 14 children together – in gratitude to the councillor, their eldest son was named after him: Christian Waage Petersen. After the councillor’s death in 1791, Lorentz Petersen took over the building in Store Kongensgade and continued the wine trade.

Christian Waage Petersen (1787–1840) became a wine merchant like his father and ran the business from a large house in Store Strandstræde in Copenhagen. In 1831, he received royal permission to combine his surnames into one; Waagepetersen. Over time, he was appointed court wine merchant, Councillor of State and Knight of the Order of Dannebrog. He also became a central figure in the cultural life of Copenhagen. He was deeply interested in music and art, and his home in Store Strandstræde became a gathering point for musicians, artists and intellectuals of the Danish Golden Age. He became, among others, a patron of the artists Wilhelm Bendz (1804–1832) and Wilhelm Marstrand (1810–1873).

The present two portraits of Jens Juel appear in one of the most important paintings of the Danish Golden Age: ”Familien Waagepetersen” (The Waagepetersen Family), also called ”Det Waagepetersenske familiestykke“ (The Waagepetersen Family Piece) from 1830, which Waagepetersen commissioned from Wilhelm Bendz. The painting shows Waagepetersen at his desk in the study in Store Strandstræde. He is interrupted in his work by his son Fritz and his wife Albertine with the daughter Louise in her arms. In a prominent position above the desk hang the two portraits of his parents. The painting by Bendz thus shows three generations of the family. It was sold at Bruun Rasmussen auction 640, 1997 no. 109 and subsequently acquired by the National Gallery of Denmark (Inv. No. KMS8003) (see photo in catalogue).

Category: Paintings

Additional Remarks: Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.