At the end of 1843 Wilhelm Marstrand accomplished a large sketch to the newly established Scandinavian Society inspired by: “Bellman's Apotheosis - Fredman's Epistle No. 83 in which the Swedish poet, after having had enough of this world, ascends to heaven and is complimented by Anacreon, cupbearer at the Bacchi and Cupids Court .” (...) “Geniuses pick and presses grapes, Gnoms making punch in a cave (...)”. (From: Karl Madsen's book about Marstrand, p. 106). The subject is known today as litohgrapher Emil Bærentzen made a print; no doubt the motif with the gnomes dragging the refined sugar loaf and gnomes preparing the punch is inspired by the above mentioned print. The two other small groups of gnomes might be “invented” by the painter for the present decoration.

Provenance: Hereditary Prince Knud of Denmark, Sorgenfri Castle; his son, Count Christian of Rosenborg, Sorgenfri Castle; his sister, Princess Elisabeth to Denmark, Sorgenfri Castle. The family always named the punch bowl for “Nissenskålen“ = ”The elf bowl”.

Similar exhibited at Bing & Grøndahl's stand at the Scandinavian exhibition, Copenhagen 1872.

Exhibited: “Royal Christmas”, Amalienborg Palace 2008.

Literature: Karl Madsen, “Wilhelm Marstrand 1810–1773”, 1905, p. 106.