A View through Three Arches of the Third Storey of the Colosseum

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg prints bring the clear light and calm precision of the Danish Golden Age into your home. Eckersberg is often called the "father of Danish painting": he laid the foundation for the Golden Age and taught a whole generation of Danish artists. This collection gathers art prints of his sunlit views of Rome, his ships sailing the Øresund, his portraits of Copenhagen families and his elegant nude studies.

About Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg was born on 2 January 1783 at Blåkrog in the Duchy of Schleswig, the son of a painter and carpenter. He grew up near the Als Sound, drawing the countryside and sailing in his father's boat. After an apprenticeship in Aabenraa and Flensburg, he reached Copenhagen in 1803 and was accepted into the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under Nicolai Abildgaard.

In 1810 he set off on his travels. In Paris he studied under the Neoclassical master Jacques-Louis David from 1811 to 1812, and from 1813 to 1816 he lived in Rome, where the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen became a loyal friend and adviser. The bright southern light of Rome changed his painting, and his small, precise views of the city are among his best-loved works.

Back in Copenhagen he became a professor at the Academy and painted portraits of the middle class, such as the Nathanson family, and an official portrait of King Frederick VI. In 1817 he married Julie Juel, daughter of the painter Jens Juel. In later years he concentrated on marine painting and wrote on linear perspective. He died of cholera in Copenhagen on 22 July 1853.

Style and Subjects

Eckersberg's paintings are clear, calm and precisely observed. He painted directly from nature, with careful perspective, crisp light and a cool, balanced color. His Roman views frame ancient buildings and everyday streets in bright Italian sunlight.

Ships and the sea became a passion in his later years: frigates, corvettes and brigs sailing or at anchor off Elsinore and Copenhagen, drawn with great accuracy. He also painted portraits, history scenes and graceful studies of the nude model, and his teaching shaped painters such as Christen Købke, Wilhelm Marstrand and Martinus Rørbye.

Famous Works

• The Marble Steps Leading to the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome (1814), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. A sunny Roman staircase with small figures.
• A View through Three Arches of the Third Storey of the Colosseum (1815), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. Rome seen through the arches of the ancient arena.
• Bella and Hanna, the Eldest Daughters of M. L. Nathanson (1820), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. A charming double portrait of two sisters.
• The Russian Ship of the Line "Asow" and a Frigate at Anchor near Elsinore (1828), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. Warships riding calm water off Kronborg.
• A View towards the Swedish Coast from the Ramparts of Kronborg Castle (1829), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. Looking across the Øresund to Sweden.
• A Nude Woman Doing Her Hair Before a Mirror (1841), Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen. One of his most admired studies of the model.
• At a Window in the Artist's Studio (1852), Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen. A quiet late interior.

Decorating with Eckersberg Prints

Eckersberg's Roman views suit a living room, study or hallway, where their warm stone colors and clear skies bring a calm, classical feeling. They look best in simple gilt or dark wood frames.

His ship paintings are natural choices for a coastal home, a bathroom or a boy's bedroom, and his portraits of children and families add warmth to a dining room or family room.

FAQ

What art movement was Eckersberg part of?

Eckersberg laid the foundation for the Golden Age of Danish Painting and is often called the "father of Danish painting". He trained in the Neoclassical tradition under Jacques-Louis David.

What is Eckersberg's most famous painting?

His Roman views, especially A View through Three Arches of the Third Storey of the Colosseum (1815), are among his best known, together with the portrait of the Nathanson daughters Bella and Hanna (1820).

Where can I see Eckersberg's original paintings?

The Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark) in Copenhagen has the largest collection. Others are in the Hirschsprung Collection, the David Collection and the Louvre.

How can you recognize an Eckersberg painting?

Look for clear, even light, precise drawing and perspective, calm compositions and cool, balanced color. Ships, Roman buildings and quiet portraits are typical subjects.

Who did Eckersberg teach?

As professor at the Copenhagen Academy he taught most of the leading painters of the Danish Golden Age, including Christen Købke, Wilhelm Marstrand, Martinus Rørbye, Constantin Hansen and Jørgen Roed.

Related Artists

• Jacques-Louis David — his teacher in Paris
• Jens Juel — Danish portrait painter, whose daughter he married
• Nicolai Abildgaard — his teacher at the Copenhagen Academy
• Christen Købke — his most celebrated pupil
• Wilhelm Marstrand — another of his pupils