Figure 1.-- Here is a portrait of the children of Hans Puggaard (1788-1866). He was a merchant and shipowner who became a noted philanthropist. His wife Bolette Puggaard née Hage was the daughter of artist Christopher Friedenreich Hage. She became a landscpe painter in hr own right--still unusual forva woman. The couple supported many artists of the Danish Golden Age. The children were 4-9 years old. They are Arnette Marie Bolette, Hans Christopher Wilhelm (1823-64), and Rudolph Christopher (1818-85). The painting dates to (1827). It was a notable deprture from the neoclassicl style. Notice how Jensen has wonderfully captured the playful nature of the children. Hans still wears a dress like his sister. The necklinevand sleeves are different. At the time necklines and sleeves were often similar. Rudolph wears a black jacket with an open ruffled collared blouse. The colors were very muted.

Christian Albrecht Jensen was am important Danish portraitist during the Golden Age of Danish Painting (first half of the 19th century). Christian was Bredstedt in Nordfriesland (1792). We know little about his childhood. He attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen (1810-16). He studied under Christian August Lorentzen. Ge then moved on to Germany where he studied studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden (1817-18). He then traveled in Italy, eventually landing in Rome (1818). These travels by artists were undertaken to the view the work of the great masters. Travel to Italy were standard in the 18th and early-19th century. By the lte19thcentury, Paris became a very important destination. Jensen spent some time in Rome (1820). This was possible because of the substantial colony of German artists into which Danes were accepted. Jensen met sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen with whom,he developed a close friendship. Jensen painted many small informal portraits of the artists he met in Rome. After Rome, he attempted to establish himself a studio in Hamburg, but eventually returned to Copenhagen (1822). He would eventually paint some 400 portraits. He helped shift portraiture in Denmark from the serious Neo-clasical style to a more philosophical style adding a touch of whimsy to his portraits. Portraiture in Denmark had been dominated by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg who painted in the established sober, Neoclassical style. Jensen's new more psychological portraits proved immediately popular. Jensen would eventually capture most of the leading Danish individuals of the day and some of th2e children. Among those portraits are author Hans Christian Andersen, the painter Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, the physicist Hans Christian Ørsted and the theologian N.F.S. Grundtvig. Jensen achieved commercial success in Copenhagen, but was not accorded master status by the Danish artistic establishment, we think primarily because he deviated from Neo-classical norms. Here is a portrait of the children of Hans Puggaard (1788-1866). He was a merchant and shipowner who became a noted philanthropist. His wife Bolette Puggaard née Hage was the daughter of atist Christopher Friedenreich Hage. She becme a landscpe painter in hr own right. The couple supported many artists of the Danish Golden Age. The children are Arnette Marie Bolette, Hans Christopher Wilhelm, Rudolph Christopher painted asJense was establishing his reputation (1827). The painting is a notable diversion from the neoclassical style. Notice how Jensen has wonderfully captued the playful nature of the children.

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Created: 8:26 AM 1/15/2026
Last updated: 8:26 AM 1/15/2026