I need to know how the Danish artist Nikolai A Abildgaard signed his
works of art, with a copy of the signature or monogram.  I am also
looking for a list of "lost" artworks by this artist, including the
subject(s) of the painting.

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Request for Question Clarification by larre-ga on 27 Mar 2003 14:58 PST

By "lost" works, are you referring to an accounting of the portraits
destroyed in the 1794 fire at Christiansborg Slot?

The Danish government and art historians tend to maintain detailed
accountings of such historical information, alas, little of it is
available online. I'm searching for offline record sources, though I
can't promise much speed, since the likely resources are in Denmark
(say as records of the Copenhagen Academy, or the Christiansborg
History collections.) I've also initiated inquires for listings and/or
signature replications that may appear in Danish Art History texts.

--larre-ga

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Clarification of Question by mrsbing-ga on 28 Mar 2003 03:36 PST

Hullo  -  in reply to your question, no, not referring to the works
lost in the fire.  Looking for references to works misplaced, sold and
not recorded, or even subjects which he is known to have painted, but
the actual work is not in any known place.

There is a museum which holds an extraordinary amount of work by this
artist, I think it is called Kunst Museum, perhaps they would help
with signature ?  Yes, they are in Denmark, Copenhagen I believe.

Please let me know if I can help in any other way, and thank you for
your time.

Mrs Bing

PS Sorry for delay, server problems

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Request for Question Clarification by larre-ga on 30 Mar 2003 15:08 PST

Progress report: I have good luck in tracking down what is known (in
print) about Abildgaard's lost works. I will have a scan of a
signature from one of his drawings by tomorrow, and am still awaiting
word from Statens Museum for Kunst regarding a database, or method by
which a sample signatuer from one of Albildgaard's paintings may be
obtained. I will post an Answer as soon as I receive all of the
required elements.

--larre

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Clarification of Question by mrsbing-ga on 31 Mar 2003 01:45 PST

Many thanks for progress report.  You are doing well.  Thank you for
your time. Look forward to seeing your report.

My thanks again, sincerely


Mrs Bing  GA

Mrs. Bing,

Despite continued research and a number of queries to the various
Danish art libraries and collections, I have been unable to locate a
copy of Abildgaard's signature that is readable, or locate access to a
database where samples are available. I have tried the museum shops at
Statens Museum for Kunst and the Glyptotek  for posters or
reproductions. I have spoken to the library section of Statens Museum
for Kunst, however, their library is reserved for those who can visit
in person. I am located in the US. I have located several art dealers
who will trace signatures from samples, however, I didn't know if this
sort of service would be of any interest to you. I have located
several listings of Abildgaard's works, plus references to lost works.

Since I am unable to fulfill your complete request, I'll offer the
information I have as a Comment, rather than as a complete Answer.
Customers are not charged, nor are Researchers compensated for
Comments.

Kunst Indeks Danmark shows 107 works registered to Nicolai Abraham
Abildgaard. The listing links each work, including dates and subjects
and current locations. A number of his works are available for viewing
in digital image format (the colored, as opposed to the gray, links).
You'll be able to switch to the English versions of the pages by
selecting the English links located lower left on most pages.

Kunst Indeks Danmark
http://www.kid.dk/KunstnerVarker.asp?ObjectId=127


Lost paintings of Nicolai Abildgaard according to Patrick Kragelund,
"Abildgaard: Kunstneren mellem oprørerneØ, p. 130 ***1

Pericles og Anaxagoras (14x17 tommer) ***2
Apollon og Phaeton (21x24 tommer)
Dante, der besynger helvede (14x19 tommer)
En Vestalinde. Skizze. (40x48 tommer)
(Draft)

and 2 disappeared works:

Achilles, som i Søvne ser Patroclis Aand eller Gienfærd (Known from
exhibition 1778)
Verdens Skabelse efter Orpheus (Known from exhibition 1794)

***1  Patrick Kragelund is the author of Abildgaard: Kunstneren mellem
oprørerne
      (The Artist Among the Rebels)
      Museum Tusculanums Forlag. Københavns Universitet, 1999.
***2  1 tomme (Danish Inch) = 2.62 cm

The book and author are described at:

Museum Tusculanum Press
University of Copenhagen
http://www.mtp.dk/catalogue?m=bi&id=417


Translation of a passage the 1999 book by Charlotte Christensen,
indicates "[Abildgaard] signed paintings  with either  N. Abildgaard
or just Abildgaard."

Christensen, Charlotte Mag. art. 1971. Kulturkritiker Information 
Publikationer: H.V. Bissen. I-II. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. 
1999: Maleren Nicolai Abildgaard. 


Search Strategy:

Web search, database search, books (in Danish), and telephone calls to
Danish art history libraries.

Google search terms:

abildgaard nicolai OR abraham
abildgaard kunst OR værk OR værker
abildgaard underskrift OR signature
artist signatures

Jubii.dk search terms:

abildgaard nicolai

http://super.jubii.dk/resultater.asp?mandatorywords=abildgaard+nicolai&mwstipulation=enumeration

I hope this information helps.

--larre