Jens Sondergaard
(Danish, 1895-1957)
Heste i Uvejr (Horses in a Storm), 1932
Oil on canvas
66" x 82"

A very large 1932 oil of startled horses in a thunderstorm. Signed and dated to the bottom left, and signed, dated, and titled twice to the reverse. Presented in a gilt frame that measures 72" x 88".

Jens Sondergaard was a celebrated Danish painter best known for his expressive depictions of nature's power. He was a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, a noteworthy figure in the experimental artists cooperative Gr√âˆnningen, and the recipient of the prestigious Eckersberg and Thorvaldsen Medals. Over 230 Sondergaard oils are held in the permanent collections of the art museums of Denmark.

Provenance: Sotheby's (The Collection of Arne Schlesch, 2000), the retirement sale of Arne Schlesch (1922-2010), the noted Manhattan dealer of Danish art and antiques, where it was offered with the title "Horses Awakened by Lightning".

There is some buckling across the painting, resulting in small amounts of flaking (the most notable example being on the left side, to the left of the leftmost sorrel horse's head). The painting was observed under blacklight, with no evidence of in-painting or over-painting noted.