Portrait of a Man. Probably a study for the portrait (1785) of the sculptor C. F. Stanley in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen 1785

Erik Pauelsen likely painted this oil on canvas study of an unknown man in Copenhagen around 1785. It could be a preparatory sketch for his portrait of the sculptor C. F. Stanley, which was commissioned by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In late eighteenth-century Denmark, the Royal Academy played a vital role in shaping artistic taste and promoting national identity. Artists like Pauelsen, who trained and exhibited there, were deeply influenced by its neoclassical ideals. This portrait reflects those ideals through its restrained composition and emphasis on idealized form. The Danish art world at this time was heavily influenced by patronage and academic standards. This study, probably intended for a more formal portrait, offers us a glimpse into the artistic process. Through careful examination of archival records, exhibition catalogs, and artists' biographies, we can gain a richer understanding of this painting and its place within the cultural landscape of its time.