Columns of the Temple of Neptune at Paestum

1838 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

landscape

In June 1838, as part of his extended Italian sojourn (1835-43), Hansen visited the Hellenic complex at Paestum, about fifty miles south of Naples. To compose this view, he stood within the so-called Temple of Neptune, using its massive fluted Doric columns to frame the distant Temple of Athena. This study owes a debt to Hansen's early training as an architect, a career he abandoned in order to study with the leading lights of the golden age of Danish painting, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg and his pupil Christen Kbke.

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Columns of the Temple of Neptune at Paestum

About the Artist

Constantin Hansen

1804 – 1880

Danish painter, belonging to the artists of the Golden Age of Danish painting. He entered the architecture school of the Royal Danish Academy of Art at 12 years of age, but changed his course of study to painting at the age of 21. He began his training under Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg in 1828. From 1835 he traveled extensively in Germany and Italy. He stayed eight years in Italy then returned to Denmark. Between 1844 and 1853 he executed the fresco decoration in the University of Copenhagen. He was interested in literature and mythology, and he tried to recreate a national historical painting based on Norse mythology. He painted also many altarpieces and portraits In 1854 he was named professor at the Academy, and became member of the Academy in 1864.

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