Artwork
Landscape outside Copenhagen with Frederiksberg Church and Palace in the Distance
Landscape outside Copenhagen with Frederiksberg Church and Palace in the Distance is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Eric Paulsen. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition includes a windmill, a small river, a house, and trees set against a backdrop where the Frederiksberg Church and Palace appear in the distance.
The work depicts a landscape scene situated outside Copenhagen, featuring specific architectural and natural elements. The composition includes a windmill, a small river, a house, and trees set against a backdrop where the Frederiksberg Church and Palace appear in the distance. As a landscape painting created in 1788, the piece presents a realistic view of the Danish countryside surrounding the capital.
The imagery focuses on the topography and built environment of the area, capturing the relationship between the rural foreground and the prominent royal and religious structures in the background.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1788, this landscape is an oil painting on canvas. The work presents a panoramic view characterized by its substantial dimensions, measuring 255 cm in height and 370 cm in width. The composition depicts a rural scene featuring a windmill, a small river, houses, and trees, with the Frederiksberg Church and Palace visible in the distance.
As a piece classified within the landscape genre, the handling of the oil medium allows for the detailed rendering of these architectural and natural elements across the large support.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced in 1788 by Eric Paulsen, executed in oil paint on canvas. The work is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.
The sources do not provide further details regarding a specific commission, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance before the painting entered the museum's holdings.
Overview
Erik Pauelsen’s oil painting, titled Landscape outside Copenhagen with Frederiksberg Church and Palace in the Distance, presents a quiet countryside scene beyond the Danish capital. A windmill, a meandering stream, and a solitary tree dominate the foreground, while the distant silhouettes of Frederiksberg Church and palace rise beneath a cloud‑filled sky.
Context
Created during the waning Rococo era, the piece illustrates a shift toward more naturalistic landscape painting in Denmark. Pauelsen’s focus on local scenery aligns with contemporary interests in national identity and the documentation of familiar surroundings beyond the urban core.
Artist & collection
Artist
Erik Pauelsen (2 or 14 October 1749 – 20 February 1790) was a Danish painter. He is most notable for his landscapes and was also a popular portraitist. However, he did not experience the same level of success as Jens…
