Artwork

Portræt af Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, rektor ved Roskilde Kathedralskole

Portræt af Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, rektor ved Roskilde Kathedralskole is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Christian Albrecht Jensen. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, identified by its title as the rector of Roskilde Kathedralskole.

The painting depicts Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, identified by its title as the rector of Roskilde Kathedralskole. As a formal portrait of an educational administrator, the work functions as a commemorative likeness, recording the appearance and status of a headmaster associated with one of Denmark's historic cathedral schools.

The subject is presented through the conventions of 19th-century institutional portraiture, in which the sitter's social and professional standing is conveyed through pose, scale, and dignified bearing rather than through allegorical attributes. The large, near life-size format underscores the importance attached to commemorating Bloch in his role as rector, presenting him as a figure of authority and learning.

Technique & Style

Created in 1830, the work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The piece measures 238 cm in height and 190 cm in width, presenting the subject as a formal portrait. As a work by Christian Albrecht Jensen, it adheres to the conventions of the genre through its direct depiction of Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch.

History & Provenance

Christian Albrecht Jensen executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, the rector of Roskilde Cathedral School, in 1830. The work depicts its subject and measures 238 cm by 190 cm. Following its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it remains held.

The portrait of Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, rector of Roskilde Cathedral School, painted by Christian Albrecht Jensen in 1830, is housed in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It is catalogued under the museum’s inventory system, though the specific accession number is not provided in the available documentation. The work has not been documented in major exhibition records to date, indicating limited public display history outside of its permanent collection presentation.

Overview

Portræt af Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch is an 1830 oil painting by Christian Albrecht Jensen, depicting Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, then rector of Roskilde Cathedral School. The work is characterized by its simplicity, precision, and effective use of chiaroscuro, creating a sense of depth.

Context

This portrait reflects Jensen's role in capturing the likenesses of influential Danish individuals during the Danish Golden Age, a period of cultural flourishing. The work aligns with the artistic trends of German Romanticism prevalent at the time.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this portrait are not highlighted, it contributes to Jensen's legacy as a prolific and skilled portraitist of his era, alongside his works of other notable figures like Hans Christian Andersen and Bertel Thorvaldsen.

Portræait of Søren Nicolaus Johan Bloch, Headmaster at Roskilde Cathedral School, Unknown

Artist & collection

Artist

Christian Albrecht Jensen

Christian Albrecht Jensen (26 June 1792 – 13 July 1870) was a Danish painter who specialised in portrait painting and was active during the Danish Golden Age.

Museum

Statens Museum for Kunst

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