Mathias Friis von Irgens-Bergh, Danish Chargé d'Affaires in Dresden

1824

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Dominant colour

Mathias Friis von Irgens-Bergh, Danish Chargé d'Affaires in Dresden is a 1824 by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1824 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This portrait shows a man in a dark coat with a high white collar and a bright red cravat. His hair is short and wavy, and he wears a gold medal on his lapel. The background is plain and dark, keeping all focus on his face. The painting uses soft shadows to shape his features, which makes his face look three-dimensional. This trick is called *chiaroscuro*—a way to add depth with light and dark. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow to tell stories.