Painting "View of Bornholm". Canvas, oil. Denmark, 1891.
Artist: Christian Vigilius Blache (1838–1920).
The painting is signed by the artist.
External frame size: 75.5 x 51 cm.
Image size: 68.5 x 38 cm.

The painting depicts a seascape at calm during sunrise. In the foreground is the smooth surface of the water. The middle and background feature rocks and boats. The painting style is loose, with a thin layer of paint, more detailed in the depiction of ships and more impasto in the white areas.

Bornholm is an island in the southwestern part of the Baltic Sea.

The examined painting is executed on a thin, dense factory-woven canvas with a machine-rolled priming. The ground is bluish-gray in color. The technique of execution does not contradict the dating of the painting to the late 19th – early 20th century.
Signature in the lower left corner: Chr. Blache — painted in black over the dried painting layer.

The Danish artist Christian Vigilius Blache (1838–1920) is known as a marine painter. Blache studied at the Shipbuilding School in Copenhagen, then continued his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, where from 1861 to 1867 he attended the class of marine painter Carl Frederik Sörensen (1818–1879). From 1863 to 1920, he regularly exhibited his works at the spring academy exhibitions at Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen, where his paintings were awarded the Neuhausen Prize in 1865 and 1869, and medals in 1866, 1867, and 1872. In 1872, Blache traveled through Western Europe to perfect his artistic mastery, visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria (Vienna), and Germany (Dresden, Berlin). In 1878, he visited Paris. In 1887, he traveled to Iceland. In 1887 and 1888, he was awarded Eckersberg medals for his works. In 1888, Blache became a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and in 1890 was elected to the Academy Council; his painting “Bergtrup Bay” was acquired for the Royal Painting Museum. From 1898 he was a professor, and from 1892 to 1914 — director of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. From 1907 to 1914, he directed academic exhibitions in Charlottenborg. Blache also participated in international exhibitions in Paris (1878, 1889) and Chicago (1893).

Christian Blache belonged to the circle of masters who were among the first to work from life in Skagen, the northernmost point of the Jutland Peninsula, where an artists’ colony formed in the late 1870s. Blache’s works, painted with realistic accuracy, are mainly devoted to seascapes and coastal views of his native Denmark. He preferred to depict the turbulent sea, conveying the dynamics of the marine element. However, beginning in the 1890s, his works included peaceful and harmonious marine scenes with romantic effects of morning or evening light. The examined painting belongs to this group of works. Compositional, painterly, and stylistic decisions similar to those in this painting are seen in such works by Blache as "Coastal Landscape with Two Sailing Boats" (signed and dated by the artist, 1894, canvas, oil, 35 × 27 cm, private collection, Copenhagen, 2010); "Frigate Jutland and Other Vessels" (signed, canvas, oil, 30.5 x 45 cm, private collection, Copenhagen, 2014); "Seascape with Sailboats in the Bay" (signed and dated by the artist, 1909, canvas, oil, 95 x 142 cm, private collection, London 2013); "Sailboats near Svekkersten, Denmark" (signed, canvas, oil, 39.5 x 63 cm, London, 2004).

Christian Blache's paintings are held in art museums in Denmark: in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Skagen.

The painting may have museum significance, represents high artistic value and great antique interest.

Dr. L. Yu. Savinskaya (The expertise was conducted by senior researcher of the Department of Old Masters Art at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, member of the National Organization for Art Experts (NOEKSI), Candidate of Art History Savinskaya, L.Yu.)