Christian Horneman

Christian Horneman (15 August 1765 – 7 March 1844) was a Danish miniature and pastels painter, mainly known for portraits.

[1] In 1803 Horneman returned to Denmark, and the following year he was appointed miniature painter to the Royal Danish County.

While abroad he had the opportunity to make portraits of a few of the leading figures of his day, including Ludwig van Beethoven (1802) and Joseph Haydn, while he made sketches of several others in a sketch book now kept at the Danish National Gallery.

Beethoven was very fond of the result, possibly because he is very good looking in it compared to later representations, and sent it to Stephan von Breuning [de], a school friend, in the hopes of reconciliation one year after the portrait was completed.

[2] After his return to Denmark he was one among several portrait painters who filled the void after the death of Cornelius Høyer and Jens Juel.