Christen Dalsgaard - Moonlight over the Lake

Christen Dalsgaard (1824-1907)

Moonlight over the Lake

Signed lower right “Ch D”.

Oil on canvas

46.5 x 32 cm

Condition:

In very good condition.

Provenance:

Private collection, Denmark.

Information:

This tranquil oil painting shows a lake bathed in moonlight, framed by dark stands of trees. High in the sky, the moon gently breaks through a closed layer of clouds, creating a narrow, silvery path of light across the still water. The subtle tonality and muted colours give the landscape an almost meditative atmosphere. Although Dalsgaard became best known for his genre scenes of Danish rural life, this work demonstrates his sensitivity to the poetry of landscape.

Christen Dalsgaard was a Danish Romantic painter. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen under C.W. Eckersberg and also received instruction from Martinus Rørbye. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dalsgaard sought his inspiration in his own country. With great attention to everyday life, he depicted Danish farmers, old customs and regional dress. Alongside his work as a painter, he was a drawing teacher for many years and later a professor at the academy. His work is represented in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen and the Skive Art Museum, among others.