Portræt af en yngre mand, profil mod venstre 1808 - 1811

August Quittschreiber, a Danish artist, crafted this plaster portrait of a young man, sometime before his death in 1819. The profile bust, set within an oval frame, echoes the Neoclassical fascination with ancient Greece and Rome. During this period, portraiture served to immortalize individuals, often those of high social standing. The man's tailored jacket hints at a certain level of affluence. Institutions like the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts played a crucial role in shaping artistic tastes and techniques. Artists like Quittschreiber were trained to emulate classical ideals, reinforcing the values of order, reason, and decorum that were prized by the establishment. Was this artwork commissioned? Who was this young man? Archival records of the time may help us to understand this artwork better. It serves as a reminder that art is never made in a vacuum.