I. E. C. Rasmussen (b. Ærøskøbing 1841, d. The Atlantic Ocean 1893)
Purchased by “Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot” in November 2013.
“Sommernat under den grønlandske Kyst circa Aar 1000”. Summer night off the coast of Greenland c. year 1000. Eric the Red and his crew on board a Viking ship, in the foreground whale tails. Signed and dated I. E. C. Rasmussen 1875. Oil on canvas laid on panel. 105×168 cm.
Exhibited: Charlottenborg 1876 no. 234.
Eric the Red from Iceland visited Greenland for the first time in 982, and was actually the one to name the island Grønland (Greenland). He sailed south of Cape Farewell and discovered the green fiords in the southern part. At that time Greenland was more or less unknown to the rest of Europe.
Eric the Red was outlawed after a murder and had to leave Iceland for at least three years. In 985 he left with about 25 other ships heading for Greenland. Only half of the ships made it.
Eric the Red and his family settled in Brattahlid, what today is Qassiarsuk, next to the runway in Narsarsuaq in the southern part of Greenland.
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 & sculptures, 26 November 2013