Wenzel Tornøe (b. Svendborg 1844, d. Frederiksberg 1907)
“En Sypige. Pintsemorgen”. A dressmaker on Whitsunday morning. Signed and dated Venzel Tornøe 1882. Oil on canvas. 79×70 cm.
Exhibited: Charlottenborg 1882 no. 263.
Provenance: Art dealer E. Henriques (1882).
The tired dressmaker who has fallen asleep on Whitsunday morning after a long night's work is Tornøes most famous motif and exists in several versions. Bruun Rasmussen Kunstauktioner has traded at least 3 variants: A larger undated oil painting on canvas (64×54 cm), a smaller undated oil painting on panel (39×35 cm) and a watercolour dated 1883 (27×23 cm) - all executed with small variations of the motif. Randers Kunstmuseum (Randers Art Museum) owns another oil painting with the measurements 40×36 cm presented to the museum back in 1893. Thus, the present painting is the largest of the ones mentioned here.
The motif strikes up a tone of Social Realism with the young dressmaker who has been working all night in her garret in the light of the oil lamp to finish the commission from a wealthy lady. But the motif is picturesque and the dressmaker is a young beautiful model. So we don't get a realistic glimpse into yesterday's actual workroom.
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.
Paintings, sculptures & books, 27 November 2012