Christen Købke
Born: Copenhagen, 26 May 1810
Died: Copenhagen, 7 February 1848
Nationality: Danish
National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen
When Købke’s Lake Sortendam was exhibited in 1839, one Danish critic objected to his choice of subject:
“In almost all his latest work this artist has distinguished himself by conscientious truth and simplicity, but unfortunately also by a conspicuous indifference to his choice of subjects; the latter is highly regrettable as nature possesses much that is dull and ignoble which cannot serve as a worth object for art.”
Anonymous reviewer in Portefeuillen (5 May 1939); translated and cited in David Jackson, Christien Købke, Danish Master of Light (Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland, 2010), 82.