Michael Ancher (b. Bornholm 1849, d. Skagen 1927)
Marie in the field. Signed M. A. Oil on canvas laid on cardboard. 42 × 31 cm.
Provenance: Bruun Rasmussen auction 795, 2008 no. 296, ill. p. 74.
The present painting is a study for a larger painting (95 × 80 cm) exhibited at Charlottenborg in 1904 with the title “Ung Pige” (Young girl), depicting the girl Marie, a neighbour of the Ancher family, working in the field. That painting was sold at Bruun Rasmussen auction 724, 2003 no. 1513, ill. p. 18 together with a letter from the artist's daughter Helga Ancher to the former owner of the larger painting. In the letter Helga Ancher tells about the motif (in Danish): “The girl in the painting was named Marie and was a kind and good girl, daughter of a poor unskilled labourer; they lived close to us, and my parents used them as models”. Helga Ancher also tells about the background in the painting: “These are the fields of Skagen as they looked then”.
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.