Peder Als

Als was born at Copenhagen in 1725, and studied under Carl Gustaf Pilo[1] whose style was a considerable influence on him.

[2] He attended the Kunstakademiet (the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts), and while still there gained recognition as a portraitist with a series of paintings of knights of the order of the Dannebrog.

[2] In Rome he entered the school of Anton Raphael Mengs, who became another powerful influence on him.

[2] He spent most of his time in Rome copying the pictures of Raphael and Andrea del Sarto, which it is said that he did with great accuracy.

[1] On his return to Denmark he painted some good portraits; but his colouring was considered too sombre to give a pleasing effect to his pictures of women, and his work was said to be so laboured as to be deprived of all animation.