Artwork
Familien Waagepetersen
Familien Waagepetersen is an oil painting by Wilhelm Marstrand. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Wilhelm Marstrand’s oil work Familien Waagepetersen depicts an intimate domestic scene of a 19th‑century Danish household. The composition centers on a mother seated at a table with a child on her lap, while other family members occupy the surrounding space, each absorbed in quiet activity. The painting is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a multi‑generational family gathered in a modestly furnished interior. Adults wear period attire, and the children engage with toys, suggesting a moment of everyday life rather than a formal portrait. The arrangement emphasizes familial bonds and the domestic routine of the Danish bourgeoisie during the Golden Age.
Technique & Style
Marstrand employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light to create depth, recalling the chiaroscuro methods popular among his contemporaries. The subtle gradations of tone give the figures a three‑dimensional presence, while the patterned carpet and wall hangings provide textural contrast that anchors the scene in a recognizable interior setting.
History & Provenance
Born in Copenhagen in 1810, Marstrand rose to prominence as a painter and illustrator of the Danish Golden Age. Familien Waagepetersen entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark’s national gallery, where it remains on display as an example of his mature genre painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolai Wilhelm Marstrand (24 December 1810 – 25 March 1873), painter and illustrator, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Nicolai Jacob Marstrand, instrument maker and inventor, and Petra Othilia Smith.
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