Artwork
The Artist and his Wife Rosine, née Dørschel

The Artist and his Wife Rosine, née Dørschel is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jens Juel. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Jens Juel and his wife Rosine Dørschel, as indicated by its title and the figure identified as the artist.
The painting depicts Jens Juel and his wife Rosine Dørschel, as indicated by its title and the figure identified as the artist. It is described as a double portrait and is classified within the portrait genre. The composition brings the two figures together in a single image, representing the artist with his spouse.
No additional iconographic or symbolic explanation is supplied by the sources. The artwork presents the married pair side by side, emphasizing their joint portrayal.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, as documented in the source material. The work measures 52.5 cm in height and 41.5 cm in width, reflecting its original dimensions recorded in the catalog entry. It belongs to the portrait genre and specifically to the double portrait sub-genre, depicting the artist alongside his wife, Rosine Dørschel.
The formal composition and handling of the oil medium demonstrate the stylistic conventions of late 18th-century Danish portraiture, with attention to detail in rendering facial features and drapery. The artwork is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is preserved and displayed.
History & Provenance
The Artist and his Wife Rosine, née Dørschel is a double portrait painted by Jens Juel in 1791. Executed in oil on panel, the work depicts the artist alongside his wife. According to the sources, the painting is presently housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark) in Copenhagen. No further details regarding its commission, earlier ownership, or exhibition history are provided in the available references.
The painting is held by Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is inventoried as accession number KMS3388.
It was exhibited at the Statens Museum for Kunst in 2004 as part of the presentation "Jens Juel (1745–1802) – Et malerportræt."
Overview
In 1796, Danish portraitist Jens Juel rendered a domestic scene featuring himself and his spouse, Rosine Dørschel. Executed in oil on canvas, the work aligns with the neoclassical aesthetic prevalent in late‑18th‑century Denmark. It now belongs to the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst).
Context
The work reflects the late‑18th‑century Danish art scene, which favored restrained elegance and clear modeling of forms. By portraying himself at work, Juel joins a tradition of artists who inserted their own likenesses into genre scenes, offering insight into the social standing of painters and the domestic environments of the period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jens Juel (12 May 1745 – 27 December 1802) was a Danish painter, primarily known for his many portraits, of which the largest collection is on display at Frederiksborg Castle.
















