This painting is presumably Marstrand's last sketch for the large painting in the National Gallery of Denmark from 1853 with the title mentioned above and with the measurements 130×215 cm. (Inv. No. KMS618).

It was not possible for the writer and poet Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) to travel to the south during the Three Years' War (1848–1851); he therefore discovered Sweden as a travel destination. He inspired and encouraged his friend Marstrand to travel to Sweden. Hans Christian Andersen had told Marstrand that a wonderful beauty and colourful scenery were not only found in Italy, but also among our Nordic brothers in Sweden. Marstrand listened and went on his honeymoon in 1851 to Leksand in Dalarne with his wife Grethe (1824–1867) to experience the country for himself.

Jesper Svenningsen writes in the exhibition catalogue “Wilhelm Marstrand. Den store fortæller”, 2020, p. 38 (in Danish): "The Swedish experience was the occasion for a significant change of direction for Marstrand, who here had the opportunity to develop an empathetic view of the common people; without distancing, without ambiguity and with an unprecedented naturalism”.

Provenance: Crafoord, “International Sale of Works of Art Copenhagen”, 4 December 2000 no. 1074, ill. p. 52. Bruun Rasmussen auction Vejle, “Udsøgte malerier fra en dansk privatsamlig” (Selected paintings from a Danish private collection), 102, 2005 no. 18, ill. pp. 22 and 23 (detail).