Seks portræthoveder 1783 - 1786

Jens Juel sketched these six portrait heads in pencil sometime during the late 18th century. Studies like this offer a fascinating glimpse into the artistic process within the social structures of the time. Juel, a prominent portrait painter in Denmark, would have been deeply embedded in the social circles of his patrons. These sketches might be preliminary studies for larger commissioned works, capturing the likenesses of notable figures within Danish society. The Neoclassical style, with its emphasis on rationality and order, pervades artistic academies across Europe. We can imagine Juel, trained within this framework, using such sketches to refine his understanding of human form and expression, likely in preparation for grander paintings that would serve to legitimize the sitter's social standing. Historical sources, such as letters, diaries, and institutional records, help us better understand the social networks and artistic conventions that shaped Juel's work and his world. Through this, we can examine how art both reflected and influenced the power dynamics of its time.