Hendrick Krock

Hendrick Krock was a Danish painter of the Baroque era, who developed his own naturalistic style, often painting biblical and historical scenes. He was born in Flensburg in 1671, where his father was a merchant. He studied under Johan Ayerschöttel of Husum, a well-known portraitist of the time. He came to Copenhagen in 1688, where he taught drawing and studied under court painter Peder Andersen at Frederiksborg Palace. He traveled to Italy in 1693, where he met other artists and learned from the works of Carlo Maratta. He returned to Copenhagen in 1701 and was one of the cosigners of a petition to King Frederick IV requesting approval for the formation of an artist society and teaching academy. This was the humble beginning of the Royal Danish Academy of Art, which was established many years later. He received a travel grant from the King and went back to Italy in 1703, where he worked for several years in the studio of Maratta. He came back to Denmark in 1705 and painted many plafonds, wall panels, door pieces and mythological paintings for the new royal palaces and castles that were built by Frederick IV and Christian VI. He also painted some portraits, but he was assisted by Nicolai Wichmann to complete the heads and faces of the nobility and royalty. He was named court painter in 1706 and received a yearly salary. He died in 1738 at the age of 67.