Featured Lot: C.W. Eckersberg, “In the Wooded Landscape”

In this ongoing series for Fine Art Today, we take a longer look at the history and features of a soon-to-be-available artwork of note. This week: C. W. Eckersberg, “In the Wooded Landscape.”
 
Son of painter and carpenter Henrik Eckersberg, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1783-1853) is hailed as the key artist who laid the foundation for the Golden Age of Danish Painting. This “father of Danish painting,” as he has been called, was apprenticed at 17 to Josiah Jacob Jessen in Flensborg before being accepted into the Royal Danish Academy of Art in 1803. Eckersberg progressed smoothly, but scholars have noted some friction that developed between the artist and Nikolaj Abildgaard, his teacher.
 
For several years following his academic training, Eckersberg traveled Europe, making stays in Rome, Florence, Germany, and Paris, where he studied the works and monuments of previous masters. Returning to Denmark, Eckersberg would eventually find himself back in the academy, though it was as a professor rather than a student. Eckersberg made his biggest impact as an educator. He stressed the importance of studying nature and working en plein air. Eckersberg also supported each of his students’ individual styles, which led to an esteemed roster of pupils.
 
Among a number of other notable works, Eckersberg’s “In the Wooded Landscape” will appear during Auctionata’s Old Master & 19th Century Paintings sale on April 27 in Berlin, Germany. The beautiful canvas, dated 1811, is a lush pastoral scene deep within a forest. A lone figure is found toward the bottom right of the picture, bathing in a calm pool along the shores of a stream. A warm glow of light cascades through the trees and illuminates the subject. Bidding will start at €20,000, though auction estimates are expected to exceed €40,000.
 
To view the full catalogue, visit Auctionata.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.