Great Danes in Art I - Kristian Zahrtmann

Today will be the first of several series featuring important figures from Danish art.  Kristian Zahrtmann (1843-1917) was a pre-eminent figure in late 19th and early 20th Denmark, not only completing a number of successful works himself, but also by teaching and mentoring.  We will be looking at his male nudes and semi-nudes today.  I don't have a photographer attribution for the photo above, but the handsome portrait below is by Johan Rohde from 1896.

 

Job and His Friends

If Job is the naked guy in Job and His Friends, he looks like he's dying.

 

Two Versions of Adam

Zahrtmann did two versions of Adam.  He called the one above Adam in the Garden of Eden

and the one below Adam in Paradise.  I guess paradise didn't have snakes.  These paintings, 

despite the vines covering the crotches, were considered too erotic for public exhibition,

and they went straight into the hands of private collections.

 

Nero's Dancer

Mr. Zahrtmann used a rather masculine model for Nero's Dancer.

 

Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son shows how Kristian Zahrtmann went back and forth 

between Classical and biblical themes when it came to painting nude men.

 

Socrates and Alcibiades

Kristian Zahrtmann did two very different takes 

on the story of Socrates and Alcibiades.

 

Teacher and mentor

 Mr. Zahrtmann was also a teacher and mentor to other Danish artists.  

This painting of his teaching studio is by Poul Christiansen from 1899.

 

Cain

This representation of Cain captures the crux of the story rather well.

 

Prometheus

This is Mr. Zahrtmann's take on Prometheus.

 

Self Portrait

Closing out the set with a self portrait from late in Mr. Zahrtmann's life.