CHARLOTTENLUND.- Ordrupgaard recently acquired an exceptional painting by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916), namely the major work Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 (1905), previously in the private collection of John L. Loeb, formerly United States ambassador to Denmark, and recently auctioned by Phillips in New York. Thanks to the generous support of various foundations, it has been possible to bring this significant work back to Denmark, where it will be accessible to the public. Ordrupgaard already houses one of the world’s finest collections of Hammershøi’s works and, with this acquisition, the museum can now present a total of twenty-two paintings by the world-renowned Danish artist.
’Hammershøi is at the very heart of Ordrupgaard, and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to acquire this exquisite work. It is an exceptional piece of Danish cultural heritage that has now returned to Denmark and Ordrupgaard. Hammershøi has been part of the museum’s collections since our founders acquired the first work in 1901 and, with 'Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30', a new masterpiece has now been added to the collection. With its surprising composition and unusual treatment of light and shadow, this painting truly stands out in the artist’s oeuvre. We look forward with great anticipation to sharing it with our many visitors.’ – Gertrud Oelsner, director, Ordrupgaard.
COURTYARD INTERIOR AT STRANDGADE 30
Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 (1905) stands out as one of the very few works in which Vilhelm Hammershøi depicts the exterior of Mikkel Vibe’s Courtyard, Strandgade 30, in the Copenhagen district of Christianshavn – the home that provided the setting for the artist’s life during the pivotal period from 1898 to 1908. The painting features an exterior walkway lined with successive windows that were visible from the northeastern wing of the residence.
As is often the case, the artist depicts the corner of a room – this time shifting his focus from the interior to the exterior. A woman is leaning out of a window, illuminated by light that strikes her and the mullioned panes with almost projector-like brilliance. The motif balances between figuration and abstraction, where the geometry of the windows and the architectural forms are emphasised by the unusual perspective. The tight corner space allows the artist to explore the effects of light and shadow, and the optics of photography are evident in the composition.
Architectural painting constitutes a small but significant part of the artist’s output, and the work draws attention to a motif that was as radically innovative as the interiors painted on the other side of these window panes. Hammershøi explored the courtyard interior at Strandgade 30 within a limited group of works and this new Hammershøi acquisition is the first of its kind to enter a Danish museum.
FROM AMBASSADOR LOEB’S COLLECTION
The painting was formerly in the collection of John L. Loeb, who served as the United States ambassador to Denmark during the period 1981–1983. It was during his tenure in Denmark that his passion for nineteenth-century Danish art was kindled and, over the next years, he accumulated a significant collection of Danish art. The collection auctioned in the spring of 2026 by Phillips in London and New York, respectively, was characterised by Loeb’s particular fondness of Vilhelm Hammershøi, who was represented by no less than twelve works.
‘Vilhelm Hammershøi has always held a special place in my collection, ever since I acquired my first work by the artist in 1984. Over the years, I have had the privilege of living with and appreciating his paintings at close quarters. It gives me great pleasure to know that the jewel of my Hammershøi collection is now returning to Denmark, where it will become part of Ordrupgaard’s outstanding collection of the artist’s work. I am grateful to Phillips for guiding the sale of my collection and for helping to ensure that this remarkable painting finds such a fitting home. I could not have wished for a finer place for it to be cherished.’ – Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr.
VILHELM HAMMERSHØI AND ORDRUPGAARD
The founders of Ordrupgaard, insurance director Wilhelm Hansen and his wife Henny, were among the first collectors of Vilhelm Hammershøi’s works. Their earliest acquisition, Interior (1901), was made in 1901 followed by several significant additions. After Hansen’s time, the museum has continued to expand the collection, particularly in connection with the great international exhibitions organised by Ordrupgaard since the first Hammershøi exhibition in 1981. Today, the Hammershøi collection is a cornerstone of the museum and is widely recognised as perhaps the most significant collection of the artist’s work in the world.
LOOKING AHEAD
The newly acquired painting Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 has just been installed in the Hammershøi gallery and can be viewed throughout the summer. From February, it will feature as a central work in the museum’s upcoming temporary exhibition Vilhelm Hammershøi. The Future as the Horizon, showing at Ordrupgaard in the spring of 2027.
The acquisition of Vilhelm Hammershøi’s Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 was made possible through grants from several foundations, including the New Carlsberg Foundation.
