Nude in Grisaille by Godfred Christensen (Denmark, 1845-1928), oil on canvas, signed, circa mid 19th century, framed - 17" x 13" 
 
Christensen was born Copenhagen. After a short time at the Copenhagen Technical College, he enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and studied there until 1867. He also took lessons from the landscape painter F.C. Kiærskou and, in 1865, was awarded the Neuhausen Prize for his painting A Freestanding Beechwood. A trip to Paris in 1869 exposed him to the influence of the Barbizon school. Later, he would be a regular guest at the Academy of Vilhelm Kyhn. In 1870, the Academy awarded him the Sødring Prize, which he used to pursue his studies in North Zealand, Denmark. The following year, he received the Neuhausen Prize again for one of the paintings he produced there: Landscape with Lush Foreground. This honor resulted in a travel stipend from the Academy that enabled him to visit Germany and Italy, beginning in 1873. Upon his return in 1875, he held an exhibition of works he had created in Capri and Rome. This was followed by trips to Switzerland and the Pyrenees, where he tried his hand at rendering mountainous landscapes. Later, in Denmark, he would create landscapes and seascapes. In 1881, he became a member of the Academy, and he became a Titular Professor in 1888 and appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1892. He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1929. Today the work of Godfred Christensen is considered one of the major art links between 19th and 20th century Danish painting. His work is represented in the Museum of Copenhagen.