Vinhandler, hofagent Christian Waagepetersen 1841

This is a portrait bust of Christian Waagepetersen, made by H.W. Bissen out of plaster, sometime in the mid-19th century. The bust appears to portray the man as an enlightened and sophisticated member of Danish society. Consider the title, which identifies Waagepetersen as a ‘wine merchant’ and ‘court agent.’ He was clearly a man of some social standing and cultural influence in Copenhagen at this time. The bust shows a man with a receding hairline, a neatly trimmed beard, and an alert gaze, suggesting intelligence, discernment, and a quiet confidence. It presents an image of bourgeois respectability and perhaps even nobility, in line with the cultural values of the Danish Golden Age. To understand this work better, we could explore Denmark's economic and political landscape in the 1800s. We could examine Waagepetersen’s role in society, and Bissen's career as a sculptor, by looking into archival sources, genealogical records, and exhibition catalogs. With further research, we can discover a great deal about how art reflects the values of its time.