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Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg / Bella and Hanna. The Eldest Daughters of M. L. Nathanson
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Bella and Hanna. The Eldest Daughters of M. L. Nathanson

1820 · Oil on canvas

The two eldest daughters of the merchant Nathanson, one seated and one standing, pose in an elegant Copenhagen interior.

ArtistCChristoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
MuseumSStatens Museum for Kunst
MovementDDanish Golden Age
LocationCopenhagen, Denmark
Genredouble portrait
Dimensions125 × 85.5 cm
SourceWikidata Q4883392

Why it matters

The two eldest daughters of the Copenhagen merchant M. L. Nathanson are painted in different poses but strikingly alike, like two variations on a theme. The caged parrot may symbolise their longing to leave their sheltered home.

Did you know?

  • It was painted in 1820.
  • Nathanson had supported Eckersberg early in his career.
  • He was a leading figure in Copenhagen's Jewish community.

Based on the Wikipedia article Bella and Hanna. The Eldest Daughters of M. L. Nathanson (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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