Home Online catalogues True to Nature. Open-air Painting 1780-1870 135. Constantin Hansen Rome 1804 – 1880 Copenhagen View of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen Constantin Hansen was born in Rome and baptized in Vienna, where he was named after his godmother, Mozart’s widow, Constanze Weber (1762–1842). He was the son of the portrait painter Hans Hansen (1769–1828), who first encouraged him to paint. Hansen initially studied architecture, enrolling in the Copenhagen Academy when he was twelve years old. He switched over to painting in 1825, and studied under Eckersberg. Hansen returned to Rome in 1835, stopping off in Dresden to visit Dahl along the way, and spent the next eight years in Italy. This view of Christiansborg Palace was probably painted after his return. Hansen presents the French Empire style palace from an unusual angle, with the left half of the composition almost entirely taken up by more modest residences. The artist seems more concerned with capturing the hazy glow of the low northern sun and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The palace was ravaged by fire on 3 October 1884 and was almost entirely rebuilt. Though Hansen would achieve a reputation primarily as a portrait painter, his training as an architect can be felt in the clarity of line and strong geometry of his landscapes.
Constantin Hansen was born in Rome and baptized in Vienna, where he was named after his godmother, Mozart’s widow, Constanze Weber (1762–1842). He was the son of the portrait painter Hans Hansen (1769–1828), who first encouraged him to paint. Hansen initially studied architecture, enrolling in the Copenhagen Academy when he was twelve years old. He switched over to painting in 1825, and studied under Eckersberg. Hansen returned to Rome in 1835, stopping off in Dresden to visit Dahl along the way, and spent the next eight years in Italy. This view of Christiansborg Palace was probably painted after his return. Hansen presents the French Empire style palace from an unusual angle, with the left half of the composition almost entirely taken up by more modest residences. The artist seems more concerned with capturing the hazy glow of the low northern sun and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The palace was ravaged by fire on 3 October 1884 and was almost entirely rebuilt. Though Hansen would achieve a reputation primarily as a portrait painter, his training as an architect can be felt in the clarity of line and strong geometry of his landscapes.