N. A. Abildgaard (b. Copenhagen 1743, d. Frederiksdal 1809)
“Siddende mandlig modelfigur”. Sitting male nude with the face partly covered by his raised arms. Painted in Rome between 1772–1777. Unsigned. Oil on canvas. 98×75 cm.
Exhibited: Statens Museum for Kunst, “Nicolai Abildgaard. Kroppen i oprør”, 2009 no. 6.
Literature: Bente Skovgaard, “Maleren Abildgaard”, 1961, reproduced plate 2.
Provenance: Nicolai Abildgaard's very good friend, the sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel. Mrs S. Ramström, Västerås, Sweden.
Morten la Cour, Curitorial Assistant, Statens Museum for Kunst (The Danish National Gallery) mentions in the exhibition catalogue “Nicolai Abildgaard. Kroppen i oprør” p. 247 that this male nude resembles those painted by Michelangelo in The Sistine Chapel in Rome. In addition, Abildgaard joined the French art school in Rome where they painted nudes in extreme positions.
Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.
Old master paintings, 10 March 2010