Jens Juel & Håkon Gullvåg: Portraits

The starting point for the exhibition is the portrait of the Anker family, painted by Jens Juel, who was Denmark’s leading portrait artist in the 18th century. The painting is permanently displayed in the main building at Bogstad Manor.

In the East Wing Gallery, Juel’s work is presented alongside contemporary pieces by Håkon Gullvåg, a key Norwegian portrait artist today. Bringing these two artists together in one exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the work of these great painters from different eras.

With brush and a discerning eye, Juel and Gullvåg have each, in their own way and more than two hundred years apart, captured their subjects on canvas. Portraiture remains just as relevant today as it was then, raising essential questions about who we are and how we wish to be seen by others.

The exhibition is curated by Marie Fongaard Seim and Geir Thomas Risåsen, curators at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History Foundation.

The paintings in this exhibition depict women, men, and children who belonged to the highest social and economic circles of their time. An elite connected through family ties, business, and social gatherings.

These portraits offer a window into societal life, international trade, and social codes. They provide insight into contemporary views on gender, family, and childhood. Beyond that, these are real people with their own stories, reflected also in their personal taste and preferences when it comes to clothing and fashion.

Fast-forward to the present, and many well-known Norwegians choose to be portrayed by Håkon Gullvåg, one of the country’s most renowned and prolific portrait artists today. Had Peder Anker lived now, he would likely have commissioned his family portrait from him!