Artwork
At a Deathbed
At a Deathbed is an oil painting by the Naturalist artist Fritz Syberg. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Technique & Style
Fritz Syberg's At a Deathbed (1896) is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 81.5 cm in height and 116.5 cm in width. As a genre scene, the composition depicts a group of figures gathered around a bed, with a table and chair also visible within the interior setting. The medium and scale are consistent with late 19th-century Danish genre painting traditions.
History & Provenance
Fritz Syberg created the oil painting At a Deathbed in 1896. Executed on canvas, the work measures 81.5 cm in height and 116.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
No specific details regarding the original commission or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
This oil painting captures a poignant domestic scene, characteristic of the naturalist approach favored by the Funen Painters, with whom Syberg was associated.
Fritz Syberg, a Danish artist, completed At a Deathbed in 1896. This oil painting captures a poignant domestic scene, characteristic of the naturalist approach favored by the Funen Painters, with whom Syberg was associated. The artwork depicts a somber gathering around a bed, conveying a quiet moment of profound human experience. It is presently housed in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a hushed interior where several figures attend to someone lying in a bed. The dimly lit room and the muted attire of the mourners contribute to a solemn atmosphere, suggesting a moment of quiet vigil or farewell. Syberg's choice of a genre scene reflects an interest in depicting ordinary life, even its most difficult passages, with an empathetic gaze.
Context
Fritz Syberg, originally from Fåborg and active on the island of Funen, was a prominent member of the Funen Painters. This group of Danish artists was recognized for their commitment to naturalism, focusing on authentic portrayals of rural and everyday life. At a Deathbed exemplifies this artistic philosophy by presenting a universal human experience with unvarnished honesty and emotional depth.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Syberg, generally known as Fritz Syberg, (28 July 1862, Fåborg – 20 December 1939, Kerteminde) was a Danish painter and illustrator, one of the or Funen Painters (Fynboerne) living and working on the…
