Like the 17th century in Holland, the Danish Golden Age in the first half of the 19th century was an important period in which painting grew and flourished. Despite the gap of almost 200 years the Dutch masters were a source of inspiration for painters in Denmark. Danish artists were enthralled by the work of their Dutch predecessors, which they saw in the art collections in Copenhagen and on their travels abroad. Genre pieces, landscapes, portraits, church interiors and seascapes were all adapted in a highly individual manner to the taste of the 19th-century Danish public.

The wealth of color illustrations in this book presents a fascinating comparison of Dutch and Danish paintings. The essays by leading Danish art historians examine and analyze the connections between the works and create a picture of the cultural climates in which they came about.

This edition throws new light on the painting of the Danish Golden Age while at the same time confirming the far-reaching influence of the painting of the Dutch Golden Age.