Nels Peter Andreas Bentzen (b. Kbh. 1812, d. s. st. 1876)
Portrait of a gentleman, presumably table setter at Tranekær castle Frederik Ludvig Anthony (1782–1842). Signed and dated Malt af (Painted by) P. Bentzen 1842. Oil on canvas. 24×18 cm.
Frederik Ludvig Anthony presumably appears for the first time in the census in Tranekær in 1801. He was presumably enslaved and was presented to Count Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1760–1832) at Tranekær Castle. During his more than 40 years of service, he worked his way up to the title of table setter and by the time of his death in 1842 was a wealthy gentleman.
Literature: Alex Frank Larsen, “Slavernes Slægt”, 2008, illustrated and mentioned p. 130. Here the present painting is being considered a repetition of a now lost original dated 1828.
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