Benjamin Asmussen
@benjamin-asmussen.bsky.social
Maritime historian & Senior Researcher @National Museum of Denmark interested in global connections - especially early modern Danish-Norwegian trading companies and their encounters.
Beautiful exhibition of the 18th century Danish portrait artist Jens Juel has just opened at the art museum Brandts in Odense, Denmark.
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
February 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Beautiful exhibition of the 18th century Danish portrait artist Jens Juel has just opened at the art museum Brandts in Odense, Denmark.
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
My favorite painting shows a Chinese sailor in Copenhagen, wearing a borrowed mandarin suit in the 1780s - likely one of the very first Chinese to visit Denmark!
How it can sometimes feel to be a maritime historian - constantly having to defend the importance of ships, shipping and sailors :-)
#maritimehistory
#maritimehistory
February 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
How it can sometimes feel to be a maritime historian - constantly having to defend the importance of ships, shipping and sailors :-)
#maritimehistory
#maritimehistory
Had the pleasure of examining three of my museums wonderful figures of Danish-Norwegian supercargoes, created by a Chinese facemaker-artist in Canton in 1731.
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
January 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Had the pleasure of examining three of my museums wonderful figures of Danish-Norwegian supercargoes, created by a Chinese facemaker-artist in Canton in 1731.
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
The detail created by the Chinese artist is just incredible - just look at the eyes, eyelashes and the whig!
#maritimehistory #canton
I am researching five large paintings, that I believe were painted in 18th cent. Canton by Chinese artists. So far, I have found the copperplates the paintings were painted after for four paintings, but I still need the last one. It shows Kronborg in Elsinore, but what was it painted after?
January 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I am researching five large paintings, that I believe were painted in 18th cent. Canton by Chinese artists. So far, I have found the copperplates the paintings were painted after for four paintings, but I still need the last one. It shows Kronborg in Elsinore, but what was it painted after?
The old symbols of seafaring, trade and wealth are everywhere in central Copenhagen, visible if you just look up!
January 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The old symbols of seafaring, trade and wealth are everywhere in central Copenhagen, visible if you just look up!
Near the ancient cathedral in Lund in southern Sweden after a sunny winter’s day. Such a beautiful town!
January 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Near the ancient cathedral in Lund in southern Sweden after a sunny winter’s day. Such a beautiful town!
A naval battle adorns this table clock from the 1650’s at the National Museum of Denmark. But the master engraver must have looked at an older image for inspiration, as the ship looks more 1500s to me - what do you think?
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
December 17, 2024 at 8:09 PM
A naval battle adorns this table clock from the 1650’s at the National Museum of Denmark. But the master engraver must have looked at an older image for inspiration, as the ship looks more 1500s to me - what do you think?
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
#navalhistory #maritimehistory #earlymodern
The English musician Darby Scott playing at the court of king Christian IV of Denmark & Norway.
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
December 12, 2024 at 4:24 PM
The English musician Darby Scott playing at the court of king Christian IV of Denmark & Norway.
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
The larger painting by Reinhold Timm dates from 1622.
#earlymodern
An American naval brig drying sails, likely in Danish waters. Painted by C.W. Eckersberg in 1831/32. The painting belongs to the museum SMK in Copenhagen.
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
December 10, 2024 at 9:37 AM
An American naval brig drying sails, likely in Danish waters. Painted by C.W. Eckersberg in 1831/32. The painting belongs to the museum SMK in Copenhagen.
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
I wonder which ship it is?
#maritimehistory #usnavy #navalhistory
Visited colleagues today in a section of the National Museum I have never been to before. Quite a nice view from their offices :-)
#copenhagen #christiansborg
#copenhagen #christiansborg
December 5, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Visited colleagues today in a section of the National Museum I have never been to before. Quite a nice view from their offices :-)
#copenhagen #christiansborg
#copenhagen #christiansborg
1k followers already, thank you!
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
December 3, 2024 at 3:17 PM
1k followers already, thank you!
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
To celebrate is here an old Finnish brig and my shadow from a midsummers sunset on the fascinating island of #Soumenlinna or #Sveaborg in Finland this summer :-)
#maritimehistory
Very interesting! Would love to hear more about it. Now you inspired me to find the books here in Copenhagen - a single used book shop had a copy waiting for me :-)
November 30, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Very interesting! Would love to hear more about it. Now you inspired me to find the books here in Copenhagen - a single used book shop had a copy waiting for me :-)
The captain of the first direct ship from Copenhagen to China 1730-32 was the Norwegian war-hero Michael Tønder.
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
November 25, 2024 at 10:21 AM
The captain of the first direct ship from Copenhagen to China 1730-32 was the Norwegian war-hero Michael Tønder.
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
As the engraving shows, he must have been skilled in keeping his cool, despite a close encounter with a Swedish cannon ball during the Great Nordic War!
#maritimehistory #navalhistory
“The morning after the Swedish Assault on Copenhagen 1659” painted by the Danish artist Christian Mølsted, 1919.
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
November 23, 2024 at 2:42 PM
“The morning after the Swedish Assault on Copenhagen 1659” painted by the Danish artist Christian Mølsted, 1919.
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
The ship stuck in the ice is the small Danish frigate Højenhald, which functioned as an additional bastion during the nightly defense.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Bringing in the beer for weekend!
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
November 22, 2024 at 6:28 PM
Bringing in the beer for weekend!
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
Detail from a painting from 1666 by Wolffgang Heimbach at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
#maritimehistory #earlymodern
The Danish Asiatic Company (1730-1844) was extremely profitable with its monopoly on Danish-Norwegian trade in Asia.
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
November 21, 2024 at 9:14 PM
The Danish Asiatic Company (1730-1844) was extremely profitable with its monopoly on Danish-Norwegian trade in Asia.
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
However, no painting exists of the HQ in Copenhagen in operation, which is odd. This later painting shows the HQ in the 1860's. Let me know if you find another!
#maritimehistory
A warm library (with ladders!) is a great place to be on a cold day. The Ethnographic Library at the National Museum of Denmark covers the whole world and has not failed me yet!
November 20, 2024 at 3:43 PM
A warm library (with ladders!) is a great place to be on a cold day. The Ethnographic Library at the National Museum of Denmark covers the whole world and has not failed me yet!
A favorite object at the Nat. Mus. of Denmark is this large painting of tea prod. in China.
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
November 19, 2024 at 9:35 AM
A favorite object at the Nat. Mus. of Denmark is this large painting of tea prod. in China.
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
Above the door of the building is a sign saying Wanhe Háng, owned by the Chinese merchant Monqua, who made a very large trade with the Danish Asiatic Comp. in 1786 - perhaps the occasion for the painting?
On the very first direct sea voyage between Denmark and China 1730-32, cadet Hans Schumacher painted the company ship CRON PRINTZ CHRISTIAN - a former Swedish warship - on the front of his journal, surrounded by Chinese decorations.
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
November 18, 2024 at 2:07 PM
On the very first direct sea voyage between Denmark and China 1730-32, cadet Hans Schumacher painted the company ship CRON PRINTZ CHRISTIAN - a former Swedish warship - on the front of his journal, surrounded by Chinese decorations.
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
I wonder where his inspiration came from for these details?
One of the oldest paintings of ships of the Danish Asiatic Company shows the frigate DRONNING SOPHIA MAGDALENE halfway between Denmark and China at the Cape of Good Hope.
The painting is likely from the 1760’s - perhaps by a Chinese artist?
Photo: Maritime Museum of Denmark
#maritimehistory
The painting is likely from the 1760’s - perhaps by a Chinese artist?
Photo: Maritime Museum of Denmark
#maritimehistory
November 17, 2024 at 2:52 PM
One of the oldest paintings of ships of the Danish Asiatic Company shows the frigate DRONNING SOPHIA MAGDALENE halfway between Denmark and China at the Cape of Good Hope.
The painting is likely from the 1760’s - perhaps by a Chinese artist?
Photo: Maritime Museum of Denmark
#maritimehistory
The painting is likely from the 1760’s - perhaps by a Chinese artist?
Photo: Maritime Museum of Denmark
#maritimehistory
What better way to start a presence on a new social medium than with an 18th century Chinese duck-boat on the Pearl River near Canton/Guangzhou?
The image was likely bought by a Danish supercargo in the 1780's and brought to Copenhagen.
The image was likely bought by a Danish supercargo in the 1780's and brought to Copenhagen.
November 16, 2024 at 8:20 PM
What better way to start a presence on a new social medium than with an 18th century Chinese duck-boat on the Pearl River near Canton/Guangzhou?
The image was likely bought by a Danish supercargo in the 1780's and brought to Copenhagen.
The image was likely bought by a Danish supercargo in the 1780's and brought to Copenhagen.