Johan Frederik Clemens

Clemens was born in 1750 into a family of artists in Copenhagen, where he trained under his father's guidance. He began his career as an engraver by 1768, quickly gaining recognition within the city's artistic circles. His early work included collaborations with notable figures like Johan Edvard Mandelberg and Johan Martin Preisler. By 1779, Clemens had established himself as a master engraver in Copenhagen. He became a member of the Academy in 1786, a prestigious recognition of his talent. His travels to Berlin from 1787 to 1791 marked significant international work, including engravings for Frederick the Great and Englishman E.F. Cunningham. This period also saw personal tragedy with the loss of his first wife to tuberculosis. In 1792, Clemens moved to London, where he worked on prints based on John Trumbull's historical paintings. His marriage to Ann Rees in 1795 and his return to Denmark in 1795 were pivotal as he resumed his role at the Academy, eventually becoming a professor of copperplate etching in 1813. Clemens' most renowned work, "Slaget på Reden" (The Battle of Copenhagen), created in 1801 from Christian August Lorentzen's drawing, became a symbol of Danish patriotism. His later years saw him experimenting with lithography and mentoring younger artists like Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg. Throughout his life, Clemens forged strong friendships with influential artists such as Jens Juel and Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard, contributing to Denmark's artistic legacy. His extensive body of work, comprising around 400 prints, solidified his reputation as a significant figure in Danish art until ...