Anton Melbye (b. Copenhagen 1818, d. Paris 1875)
“Den Danske Eskadre til Ankers på Warnemünde Rhed. Deres Kgl. Højheder Kronprinsen og Kronprinsessen have forladt Dampskibet Kiel for at gå ombord i Linieskibet Christian VIII”. The Danish Squadron at anchor on Warnemünde roadstead. His Royal Highness The Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess have left the steamship Kiel to board the liner Christian VIII. Signed Melbye 1842(in the lower left corner). Oil on canvas. 123×160 cm. Damborg frame with label.
Correction inserted 1 June 2023. The painting IS signed.
Exhibited: Charlottenborg 1843 no. 168.
Provenance: Commissioned from the artist by Christian VIII of Denmark (1786–1848). Frederik VII of Denmark (1808–1863), his estate auction, 7 October 1864, no. 206. Here acquired by wholesaler Salomonsen. Bruun Rasmussen auction 91, 1958 no. 168, ill. p. 13. Bought from art dealer J. Thompson in 1958.
The liner Christian VIII entered the Danish Navy on 11 May 1841 and came under the command of Crown Prince Frederik (later Frederik VII) on 23 May of the same year. Crown Prince Frederik married his second wife, the German Mariane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1821–1876), on 10 June 1841 in Neustrelitz, Germany. The liner Christian VIII brought the Crown Prince and Crown Princess from Warnemünde to Copenhagen on 21 June 1841. When they arrived in Copenhagen the day after, it was celebrated with great festivity.
The marine painter Anton Melbye became a passenger on several of the Danish Navy’s ships to depict the ships and Denmark at sea, and he was on board Christian VIII. Here he depicted, among other things, the Crown Prince couple’s journey to Denmark.
The liner Christian VIII was destroyed in the Battle of Eckernförde on 5 April 1849 during the First Schleswig War.
On this auction, we also offer a drawing of the liner Christian VIII carried out by C. W. Eckersberg (1783–1853), who was Melbye’s teacher in the years 1838–41 (see Lot. No. 911).
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 and icons, 14 June 2023