Grevinde Louise Danner, f. Rasmussen 1853

Curator: Standing before us is H.W. Bissen's bronze sculpture from 1853, a portrait bust of Countess Louise Danner, née Rasmussen. It’s part of the collection here at the SMK. Editor: My first impression? There’s a stillness to her, an almost melancholic strength. The weight of bronze seems fitting somehow, a quiet defiance caught in metal. Curator: Indeed. Bissen was known for his neoclassical style, but this has a Romantic sensibility, capturing a sense of interiority alongside the classical composure expected of portraiture at the time. Consider Danner's unusual background—she began life far from the aristocracy. Editor: The sculpture definitely softens the Countess’s features and captures her nobility. It's amazing how different her representation is, versus how her contemporaries might have viewed her, as someone of controversial stature for that time. The portrait attempts to bridge her humble upbringing with her position in society. Curator: Absolutely, Danner's relationship with King Frederick VII, and her subsequent elevation to Countess, was deeply controversial. It challenged the rigid social norms. And note the medallion she wears in the portrait – that is the King’s, perhaps signaling the profound connection to power that otherwise she did not inherit. Editor: The detail in that medallion is remarkable. It almost humanizes her. The rest of the sculpture's form looks as though it almost comes directly from life. In fact, the only element that feels even slightly embellished are her shoulders. Even then, the folds in the fabric draped there feels somehow real. Curator: Well said, Bissen was invested in imbuing even the smallest element with an aspect of Danner's personality and history. We see the attempt in how he captured the draping of the clothing over her figure. Her elevated title came at a cost, which Danner used to influence progressive policies regarding poverty and social reforms in Denmark. The sculpture, then, represents not just a noble woman but a figure actively engaged in redefining her role and public perception. Editor: Seeing the portrait through that lens makes its quiet power resonate even more. It transforms from simply an upper class portrayal into a quiet declaration of strength during the second half of the nineteenth century. Curator: Precisely. It makes me consider what portraits of controversial figures are displayed now. The placement and surrounding presentation become essential considerations. Editor: It highlights how every art work is layered and the conversations we have about it shift its narrative over time.