This exhibition features 34 Danish paintings from a collection acclaimed as the most extensive of its kind outside of Denmark. Danish Paintings of the 19th Century from the Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. includes examples of Danish interiors, land and cityscapes, portraiture, still life, floral and genre paintings.

The works tell a story about an artistic culture, offering insights into the dynamics of smaller European nations in an era of emerging nationalism and industrialization. In the period under consideration in this exhibition, Denmark’s desire for national identity is reflected in the art of the 19th century, which in turn shaped successive communities of artists who felt deeply about expressing a clear image of this identity. During the 19th century, Danish artists increasingly began to focus not on formal, urban views and grand narratives, but on rural themes, reinterpreting the classical tradition to ennoble local topography and cultural life.

In presenting Danish Paintings of the 19th Century from the Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. the Bruce Museum continues its series of exhibitions drawn from private collections. John L. Loeb, Jr. served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark from 1981 to 1983 and began collecting 19th century Danish art during his tenure there.

After its initial viewing at the Bruce Museum, the show will travel to the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, from September 30 through December 18, 2005.