The sculpture group Penelope, completed in 1846, marked a decisive departure from the static conventions of Neoclassicism toward a more dynamic aesthetic for Jens Adolf Jerichau. This work, held at the Danish National Gallery, brought the Danish artist international acclaim and signaled his evolution beyond the stylistic influence of his predecessor, Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Early Education and Influences
Born in Assens in 1816 to Carl Christian Jerichau and Karen Birch, Jens Adolf Jerichau began his artistic path with an apprenticeship in painting before moving to Copenhagen. In 1831, he gained admission to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He studied under Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg and later transitioned to sculpture under the guidance of Hermann Ernst Freund. Following his graduation in 1837, he moved to Rome, where he spent a year working within the studio of Bertel Thorvaldsen.
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While early productions like the 1846 Hercules and Hebe and the 1849 Christ figure reflected traditional Neoclassical standards, Jerichau increasingly sought to incorporate realism and movement into his art. Works such as The Panther Hunter, created in 1846, and his later pieces like the 1860 Slave Girl and 1862 Bathing Girls, showcased a departure from rigid historical forms. These sculptures are currently housed in the Danish National Gallery and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
Institutional Career and Public Commissions
Jerichau served as a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and held the position of director from 1857 to 1863. Throughout his life, he received several honors, including the Thorvaldsen Medal in 1847 and the Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1852, followed by the Decoration of the Cross of Honour in 1861 and the commander status of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1876. He contributed significantly to public spaces, most notably with the 1876 Hans Christian Ørsted Monument in Copenhagen.
Legacy and Personal Life
Jerichau married the painter Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann, with whom he had nine children, including the composer Thorald Jerichau and landscape artists Harald and Holger H. Jerichau. Much of his work, including a frieze depicting the marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxane at Christiansborg Palace, was lost or damaged in an 1884 fire. Jerichau died in 1883 in Neder Dråby and was buried at the Solbjerg Park Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1816, Assens, Denmark
- Died: 1883, Neder Dråby
- Movement: Neoclassicism
- Education: Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
- Notable sculpture: Penelope (1845–46)
- Awards: Thorvaldsen Medal (1847)
- Burial site: Solbjerg Park Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What stylistic shift is Jerichau known for?
He moved away from the static Neoclassicism of Bertel Thorvaldsen toward a more dynamic and realistic sculptural style.
Did Jerichau have family members in the arts?
Yes, he was married to painter Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann and was the father of composer Thorald Jerichau and landscape artists Harald and Holger H. Jerichau.
Achievements
- Thorvaldsen Medal — 1847
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog — 1852
- commander of the Order of the Dannebrog — 1876
- Movement: Neoclassicism
