Artwork
Martinus Rørbye
Martinus Rørbye is an oil painting by Constantin Hansen. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of the top hat acts as the primary iconographic element, signifying the subject's status and identity during this period.
This 1837 oil painting functions as a portrait depicting the artist Martinus Rørbye. The composition focuses on the male figure, who is shown wearing a top hat, a specific sartorial choice that anchors the subject within his contemporary social context. As a work classified within the portrait genre, the image serves primarily as a representational record of Rørbye's likeness rather than an allegorical scene rich in complex symbolism.
The inclusion of the top hat acts as the primary iconographic element, signifying the subject's status and identity during this period. The work stands as a direct visual documentation of the individual, capturing his appearance without additional narrative layers or metaphorical devices beyond the immediate presentation of the man and his attire.
Technique & Style
The portrait of Martinus Rørbye by Constantin Hansen is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. Created in 1837, the work measures 26.7 cm in height and 21 cm in width. As a portrait, the painting depicts the artist wearing a top hat, utilizing the medium to capture the likeness and attire of the subject within a small-scale format.
History & Provenance
Constantin Hansen executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of the artist Martinus Rørbye in 1837. The work depicts its subject wearing a top hat and measures 26.7 cm in height by 21 cm in width. Created during the mid-19th century, the painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains housed.
No specific details regarding the original commission or intermediate ownership transfers prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
The portrait of Martinus Rørbye by Constantin Hansen is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst in Denmark. According to the Wikidata record for the work, it belongs to the museum's collection and is located there. The painting is catalogued as an oil-on-canvas portrait measuring 26.7 cm in height by 21 cm in width, dated 1837.
No specific accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented in the materials provided.
Overview
Created in 1837, this oil-on-canvas portrait presents the Danish painter Martinus Rørbye seated on a low ledge. He holds a small cup, his posture relaxed yet attentive, and wears a dark coat, light trousers, and a wide-brimmed hat. The figure is set against a plain, light-colored wall that recedes into a muted shadow, emphasizing the sitter’s presence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin Hansen) (3 November 1804 – 29 March 1880) was one of the painters associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting.
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