The Royal Danish CollectionAmalienborgOtto Bache

Otto Bache

 

Otto Bache was a Danish painter who specialised in portraits, historical paintings and paintings of animals. His most famous painting is The Conspirators rides from Finderup after the Murder of Erik Klipping (1882, Frederiksborg Castle).

He was admittd to the Academy of Fine Arts aged ten in 1849 and became an apprentice with Wilhelm Marstrand, a highly acknowledged painter at the time. He spent the years 1866-8 in Paris and Italy. His time in Paris was particularly influential on his style of painting. Whereas his earlier paintings were influenced by the meticulous and detailed expression of the Eckersberg School, the paintings from Paris have greater freedom, richer colouring, stronger light and a broader form. He was among the earliest Danish artists who tried to renew art according to French inspiration. Nevertheless, he stood by the Eckersberg and Marstrand inspired Naturalism he was trained in at the Academy. Otto Bache executed several traditional representational portraits and historical paintings of the Royal family.

 

Relations

Frederik VIII, 1909

The painting of the older Frederik VIII was made by Otto Bache in 1909 when the King was 66 years old.

1925-1950

The economic downturn at the end of the 1920s and in the 30s created great social instability. While the Social Democrats gained power in Denmark, in Germany Nazism gained a foothold. The result was the Second World War 1939-45 that ended with a Europe in ruins.

1900-1925

With the change of system in 1901 parliamentarism became the current practice in Denmark, and the first liberal government came to power. The most important event was the First World War, 1914-18 theat ended with a dramatically altered Europe.

1825-1850

The years towards the middle of the 19th century became increasingly marked by the national conflict between the Danes and Germans in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. It culminated in the Three Years' War, or the First Schleswig War in 1848-51.

1850-1875

The social and political revolts in Europe in 1848 had ushered in new times for European states, and for Denmark too. But even though the absolute monarchy was abolished with the Constitution of 1849, the monarchy was far from disengaged from power.

1875-1900

The period was a peaceful one for Denmark. The spread of electricity and the invention of the telephone characterised the era, and industrialisation made many new things available, while the road network and the railways created new transport possibilities.