Jens Juel - Niels Ryberg with his Son Johan Christian and hisDaughter-in-Law Engelke [1797]

Jens Juel - Niels Ryberg with his Son Johan Christian and his Daughter-in-Law Engelke [1797], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

The merchant Niels Ryberg is shown sitting on a bench in the parklands of the manor house Frederiksgave on Funen, with his son Johan Christian and his daughter-in-law Engelke in front of him. The son makes a gesture with his hand, as though to show off the family estate. There is a strong feeling of harmony between the people and the countryside in which they are placed, and the picture reflects the new interest in nature that emerged all over Europe towards the end of the 18th century. It also, however, demonstrates how Denmark’s new rich of the time wished to carry themselves on a par with the dominant social group, the aristocracy. Ryberg and his son appear as distinguished as the many aristocrats that Juel (1745 - 1802) also portrayed.

Jens Juel - Joseph Greenway [1788]

Jens Juel - Joseph Greenway [1788], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Born in Devon, the sitter amassed a fortune as captain of a Danish East Indiaman and acquired Danish citizenship in 1785. He was Sheriff of Exeter from 1802 to 1803 and Mayor from 1804 to 1805. In 1821 however, he is recorded as bankrupt and dead. The background of the painting is said to represent an estate north of Copenhagen which belonged to a friend of the sitter.

Juel (1745 - 1802) first studied in Hamburg and then, from 1765, at the Academy, Copenhagen. He worked in Rome (1772-76), Paris and Geneva before returning to Copenhagen in 1780. He became court painter in Copenhagen and, later, Director of the Academy.

[Oil on canvas, 79.8 x 99.1 cm]