N. A. Abildgaard (b. Copenhagen 1743, d. Frederiksdal 1809)
Portrait of N. A. Abildgaard's son Marcus Aurelius Abildgaard (1781–1786). Unsigned. Oil on canvas. Oval. 69×55 cm.
Marcus Aurelius was the apple of his father's eye. Abildgaard mourned the loss of his only child. The mayfly to the left of the boy's head is symbolizing the boy's early death and indicates that it is a posthumous portrait.
Marcus Aurelius was also portrayed by Jens Juel, see Ellen Poulsen, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of Jens Juel no. 365, reproduced, vol. II p. 233 and by the miniature painter Cornelius Høyer.
Provenance: N. A. Abildgaard bequeathed the portrait to his good friend the Swedish neoclassical sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel. Countess Pieper, a relative of Sergel.
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 & drawings, 17 September 2013