Denmark unknown Danish Naval Officer painting

[dedehansen]

A friend of mine asked me for help but it isn´t my subject.

So I have to ask for any of your support.

Any help is apprciated. I think he is wearing Dannebrogordenen

in different classes. I´m not sure about his rank.

Regards

Andreas

[paul wood]

He is wearing the Knight's Cross and Silver Cross of the Dannebrog, cypher looks if Christina IX (post 1863) not sure of rank though.

Paul

[dedehansen]

He is wearing the Knight's Cross and Silver Cross of the Dannebrog, cypher looks if Christina IX (post 1863) not sure of rank though.

Paul

Thanks Paul,

for confirming my assumption. My friends guess was that he was

an admiral in the war 1864 Denmark against Prussia / Austria.

Regards

Andreas

[Egorka]

He kind of resembles Admiral Edouard Suenson  , but he was more bold. The awards fit though, also at the time when the painting could be made. 

[Egorka]

Three stars on the epaulette should mean Admiral rank.

BTW is the painters name known?

[dedehansen]

Moin an thanks, the name from the painter isn´t known, that would make it easier.

In a German forum there three possible persons mentioned.

Kontr. Adm. Carl Edvard van Dockum bei der Geschwader in der östlichen Ostsee

Kapt. Freederik Christian Georg Muxoll bei der Geschwader in der westlichen Ostsee

Kapt. Edouard Suenson b.d. Nordsee Geschadwer

Maybe you could check the other two?!

Kind regards
Andreas

 

[Egorka]

What do you say? Him?

Edited August 25, 2016 by Egorka

[dedehansen]

Hej Egorka,

bingo speaking likeness. I think you´ve found him

[Egorka]

Yeah, looks like. But... the decirations and the rank don't quite match. Will check more when home. I don't think, his Danebrog decorations should be with Christian IX's cypher.

His name is Hans Peter Rothe (1813-1905).

Rank: 24. marts 1858:  Orlogskaptajn

Decirations:

20. september 1847 - Ridder af Dannebrogordenen

6. oktober 1860 - Dannebrogsmændenes Hæderstegn

21. april 1864 - Kommandør af 2. grad af Dannebrogordenen

17. januar 1883 - Kommandør af 1. grad af Dannebrogordenen

See, then the portrait must have been painted between 1860 and 1864 (only 2 first decorations depicted). But then both of them were awarded under Frederik VII. Then why the Royal cypher of Christian IX's? This could be artist's liberty or intention.

Edited August 25, 2016 by Egorka

[paul wood]

Egorka

Having frequently advised a leading London auction house concerning orders and decorations depicted on paintings I have found that what the orders are supposed to be and how they are depicted are often two quite different thing and often quite a good deal of lateral thinking is required to work out what they are. Also many paintings were produced from rough drafts and finished off from these and probably he took his finishing off of the orders from found images of the order maybe from the central chancellery . Surely the award of the Ridder would have been a Christina VIII award as he was still alive in 1847

Paul

[Egorka]

I see, thank you, Paul, for the comment. 

Then what about the rank? Is it again painters mistake or?

Check out his epaulet. It seem fairly certainly established that the painting was done between October 1860 and April 1864. In this period the regultions from 1858 were valid. According to it, NO rank had such epaulet. The Orlogskaptajn epaulet has the crown, roset, the anchor and of large fringe(see #4 on illustration). The intendant's epaulet had no fringe at all, and two small stars each side of the anchor (see #7).

On the painting the epaulet appears to be a mix between Orlogskaptajn and intendant. Could the insignia be mixed like that? He was the director for the naval maps archive at that time, as well as a shipyard comission member during that time. 

Edited September 3, 2016 by Egorka

[Egorka]

On 11/3/2014 at 11:46, dedehansen said:

A friend of mine asked me for help but it isn´t my subject.

So I have to ask for any of your support.

Any help is apprciated. I think he is wearing Dannebrogordenen

in different classes. I´m not sure about his rank.

Regards

Andreas

Hello, Andreas!  I sent you a PM about the painting.

[dedehansen]

Hi Igor,

sorry for the late reply, back then I have forwarded your answer to my acquaintance,

but he still did not consider it necessary to answer me.

I appreciate your efforts very much!

Kind regards
Andreas

[Egorka]

Andreas, I might be interested in this painting. I would like to return it to the land of origin - Denmark. If possible, let you friend know again.