Johan Ludwig Lund

Johan Ludwig Lund was a self-taught Danish painter who specialized in portraits, historical paintings, and scenes from the comedies of Ludvig Holberg. He was born in Kiel, Duchy of Holstein, in 1777, where his father was a master painter. He arrived in Copenhagen around 1797 and frequented the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, but it is unclear whether he received formal training. He won a gold medal and a scholarship in 1798, which enabled him to travel to Paris and study under Jacques-Louis David. He was influenced by the neoclassical style and the works of Raphael, Poussin, and Mengs. He returned to Denmark in 1802 and became a more versatile artist. He painted many historical subjects, such as The Death of Leonidas (1804), The Coronation of Gustav Vasa (1807), and The Death of Charles XII (1818). He also painted portraits of his friends and patrons, such as Friederike Brun, Wilhelm von Humboldt, and Christian VIII. He also depicted scenes from Holberg's plays, such as The Political Tinker (1820), The Arabian Powder (1824), and Jeppe of the Hill (1826). He was a professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1819 until his death in 1867. He followed Nicolai Abildgaard as the Academy Director from 1821 to 1827. He taught many young artists, such as Martinus Rørbye, Wilhelm Bendz, and Christen Købke. He is regarded as one of the most influential Danish painters of his time and his works are exhibited in many museums and galleries in Denmark and abroad.