P.C. Skovgaard – Aggersborg’s Villa in Classen’s Garden (1860)

 

Painted in 1860, Aggersborg’s Villa in Classen’s Garden situates P.C. Skovgaard’s national-romantic vision within an urban context. Skovgaard, a leading figure of Denmark’s Golden Age, was renowned for his depictions of beech forests and rural landscapes that celebrated national identity. Here, he turns to Classen’s Garden in Copenhagen, portraying the villa of his uncle H.C. Aggersborg. The composition balances architectural structure with lush greenery, reflecting Skovgaard’s ability to harmonize human presence and nature. This work exemplifies the Golden Age ideal of combining topographical accuracy with poetic atmosphere, reinforcing Skovgaard’s role in shaping a distinctly Danish landscape tradition.

Source: ordrupgaard