Vilhelm Arnesen (b. Flensburg 1865, d. Copenhagen 1948)
“En Hundredårig. Amatørsejlklubbens stationsskib, briggen ”Hvalfisken“ ved Langelinie”. A centenarian. The amateur sailing club's stationed vessel the brig “Hvalfisken” at Langelinie. Signed and dated Vilh. Arnesen 1902. Oil on canvas. 88×127 cm.
In 1902 it was almost 100 years since “Hvalfisken” (the whale fish) had been launched in Kalmar - thus the “centenarian” referred to in the title. The ship sailed for nearly 100 years between Denmark and Greenland for the Royal Greenlandic Trade. Around 1900, “Hvalfisken” became a club ship for the amateur sailing club in Copenhagen, and as such, made only 2 short trips a year - from Nyhavn to Langelinie in spring and back again in the autumn. In this painting, “Hvalfisken” is just at berth at its usual summer location at Langelinie.
In 1915 the “Hvalfisken” was purchased by the sailor school in Svendborg. The ship was scrapped in 1949. 148 years after its creation.
Exhibited: Charlottenborg 1903 no. 33.
Provenance: Bruun Rasmussen auction 437, 1982 no. 304.
Condition report on request. Contact fine-art@bruun-rasmussen.dk
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 & books, 19 September 2017