Bertel Thorvaldsen
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
1838
Here sits Bertel Thorvaldsen, the Danish sculptor who was basically the rock star of Neoclassicism in 19th-century Rome. Painted by his friend Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg in 1838, Thorvaldsen looks dashing in a dramatic black cloak and a fancy white cravat, wearing a medal that proves he was a VIP. The stone relief behind him featuring horses and a chariot is a clever nod to his actual job—he was a master sculptor, and that background likely depicts his own famous work. It’s a perfect snapshot of an artist at the height of his fame, surrounded by the classical ideals he helped revive.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen