Jens Jorgensen Juel

Jens Juel was a prominent Danish painter who specialized in portraits. He was born in the house of his mother's brother, who was a school teacher in Balslev on the island of Funen. He showed an interest in painting from an early age and was sent to Hamburg to apprentice with Johann Michael Gehrman, a German painter. He improved his skills and gained a reputation as a painter of landscapes, genre scenes, and portraits. He moved to Copenhagen in 1765 to attend the Royal Danish Academy of Art, where he won several medals for his biblical paintings. He traveled to Rome, Paris, and Geneva, where he painted many portraits of the local aristocracy and learned from the works of other artists. He returned to Copenhagen in 1780 and became the court painter of the Danish royal family. He also served as the director of the Academy and taught many young artists. He painted more than 400 portraits, many of which are on display at Frederiksborg Castle. He also painted some landscapes and historical scenes. He is regarded as the leading Danish portrait painter of the 18th century and one of the most influential figures in Danish art history. He died in 1802 at the age of 57.