877/​608

J. F. Willumsen (b. Copenhagen 1863, d. Cannes 1958)

Preliminary work for “Badende børn på Skagens Strand” (Children Bathing at Skagen Beach) also called “Sol og Ungdom” (Sun and Youth) (1910), c. 1902–10. Unsigned. Oil on canvas. 197×327 cm.

Exhibited: “I bølgen blå – Willumsen og de badende børn”, Skagens Museum, 22 April - 21 August 2016 and J.F. Willumsens Museum, Frederikssund, 7 September - 8 January 2017, ill. as fig. no. 206 p. 161 in the exhibition catalogue. Provenance: The artist's descendants. Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.

The work offered for sale is a large preliminary work for the monumental “Badende børn på Skagens Strand” (Children Bathing at Skagen Beach) also called “Sol og Ungdom” (Sun and Youth) (1910), located at the Gothenburg Museum of Art, Sweden. Another preliminary work, the so-called “dress rehearsal” dating from 1909, is found at the J. F. Willumsen Museum (deposited by Skagens Museum until 2006).

The artist worked with the motif for 8 years, with several long intermissions. Originally Willumsen got the idea for the painting in Amalfi, Italy, in 1902 where the suntanned, bathing children fascinated him. He began making the first preliminary works in the shape of photographs, drawings with pencil and watercolours. In the summer of 1902, he continued his studies for the work in both Amalfi and Brittany, especially studying the breakers of the sea. The composition was assembled and “put up” in the studio at home. In the summer of 1909, Willumsen put the final touches on the dress rehearsal at the beach of Skagen while the final painting was completed in 1910.

This lot is subject to Artist's Royalty.
Condition

Condition report on request.

Additional Remarks

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.

Auction

Paintings, sculptures, photos, 6 March 2018

Category
Estimate

500,000–600,000 DKK

Price realised

Not sold