Christian August Lorentzen

Christian August Lorentzen studied at Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Training under Peder Als and Johan Edvard Mandelberg is recorded. Martinus Rørbye, Christen Købke and Constantin Hansen are recorded as having studied under Christian August Lorentzen. The recorded working language is Danish. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait. Employment is recorded with Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Works named in the authority record are The Most Terrible Night. Work by Christian August Lorentzen is recorded in the collections of Nationalmuseum, Oslo Museum, Museum of Copenhagen, Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design.

• Name — Christian August Lorentzen • Born — 10 August 1749 • Birthplace — Sønderborg • Died — 8 May 1828 • Place of death — Copenhagen • Known for — Painter • Movement — Neoclassicism

Christian August Lorentzen was born in Sønderborg, Denmark. He was the son of Hans Peter Lorentzen and Maria Christina Hansdatter. His father was a watchmaker. He arrived in Copenhagen around 1771 where he frequented the Royal Academy of Fine Arts but it is unclear whether he received formal training. After arriving in Copenhagen, he was soon used as a portrait painter. From 1779 to 1782 he went abroad to develop his skills, visiting the Netherlands, Antwerp and Paris where he copied old masters. In 1792 he traveled to Norway to paint prospects.

• Illustration — C. A. Lorentzen in his studio by Martinus Rørbye, painted before 1828 After returning home in 1782, he became a more versatile artist. In a number of painting, such as Slaget på Reden (Battle of Copenhagen. 1801) at Danish Museum of National History and Den rædsomste nat (The Awful Night. 1807) at Danish National Gallery, he documented key events from the English Wars between 1801 and 1814. Later in his career he mainly painted portraits, landscapes and scenes from the comedies of Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754). He was professor at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen from 1803 and until his death in 1828. He followed Nicolai Abildgaard (1743–1809) as the Academy Director from 1809 to 1810. He exercised great influence on the next generation of painters such as Martinus Rørbye (1803–1848) among others.

• Illustration — Frederiksholm Canal in Copenhagen (1794) • Illustration — Battle of Copenhagen (1801) • Illustration — Dannebrog falling from heaven during the Battle of Lindanise (1809) • Illustration — Model class at the Danish Academy (ca. 1824)

Works recorded as notable number 2: The Most Terrible Night. View of Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen During the English Bombardement of Copenhagen at Night between 4 and 5 September 1807 and The Political Tinker. His recorded genre is portrait.

Recognition and collections.