Peter Mønsted
Peter Mønsted, Portrait Of Aage Jørgensen, Oil Painting
1928

About the Item

This early 20th-century portrait by eminent Danish artist Peter (Peder Mork) Mønsted (1859-1941) depicts local dignitary Aage Jørgensen (1879-1960). It’s an informal portrayal that suggests an established friendship. Jørgensen was a highly-respected figure within his local community and held various positions within both private and public sectors. In 1928, when Mønsted produced this portrait, he was on the board of the Gentofte Municipality Conservative Voters’ Association. Gentofte is a district of Copenhagen. To contextualise the piece, it’s interesting to consider how the pair knew each other. Mønsted is known as one of Denmark’s greatest landscape painters and his depictions of rural Denmark are near-photographic in execution. His academic approach to painting was probably underpinned by a set of traditional beliefs and a sense of national pride. One can imagine that the pair would’ve met on several occasions at the conservative club. With this in mind, consider how Mønsted has approached this portrait. There’s a smoky atmosphere and Jørgensen fills the frame. He could be sat across a table, cigar in hand, still debating current affairs while the portrait was underway. Mønsted has inscribed it ‘kindly from P Monsted’ - was it a gift? Jørgensen would later become the mayor of Gentofte. Peter Mønsted trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he later became a member. He also studied under Peder Severin Kroyer and in Paris with William Adolphe Bouguereau. His works were in high demand during his lifetime and frequently shown at Charlottenborg, along with the salons of Paris and Munich. Although predominantly known for landscape painting, he was also regarded as an accomplished portrait painter with sitters including the Greek royal family. Signed/dated/inscribed lower right and held within an early 20th-century gilt scotia frame with inner astragal and double bead ornament. Established in 2017, Brave Fine Art is a premier English art dealership based in Cheltenham with clients including national galleries and country estates. Our team includes a conservator, logistics specialist and art historian. Over 1,000 paintings have been transported to the US and Canada safely with hundreds of glowing reviews. We set our prices fairly from the start as we prefer to sell quickly and continually evolve the collection. Around 40 new discoveries are added every month. If you have any questions at all, we’d love to hear from you.

Creator:

Peter Mønsted (1859 - 1941, Danish)

Creation Year:

1928

Dimensions:

Height: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Width: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)

Medium:

Oil,Board

Movement & Style:

Academic

Period:

Early 20th Century