Urmager Louis Urban Jürgensen 1866

H.W. Bissen sculpted this marble bust of watchmaker Louis Urban Jürgensen in Denmark, sometime in the mid-19th century. It is an example of the neo-classical style then in vogue among the Danish bourgeoise. But why celebrate a watchmaker in this way? The answer lies in the social and economic transformations underway in Denmark at the time. Jürgensen belonged to a rising class of manufacturers, merchants, and professionals who were accumulating wealth and power as Denmark industrialized. Busts like this served as status symbols, demonstrating the sitter’s success and respectability. The neo-classical style, with its references to ancient Greece and Rome, also contributed to this image of respectability. It associated the sitter with the values of reason, order, and civic virtue, values that were increasingly important to the emerging middle class. By studying probate records, business directories, and other historical documents, we can learn more about the social and economic context in which this bust was made, and gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.