Christopher Ørsted 1785

Marie Jeanne Clemens made this print of Christopher Ørsted in Denmark, probably during the 1770s or 1780s. Clemens was a successful printmaker, working in a period when women were gaining prominence in the arts. Ørsted's wig, coat, and cravat indicate his status as a man of the upper classes. He was a pharmacist by trade, but it seems he also held a position in the Danish government; you might want to investigate the State Calendar of the time to find out more. This image tells us something about the public role of art in late 18th century Denmark. Who was Clemens trying to reach with this portrait? Was she working for Ørsted, or selling prints of famous men? Perhaps further research in sources from the period will tell us more about the motivations behind this work. What's clear is that Clemens and Ørsted were both playing a part in the institutions of their day.