Emma Meyer, Interior with Two Women - Antique Oil Painting

This late 19th-century oil painting by Danish artist Emma Meyer (1859-1921) depicts a tastefully decorated interior with two women - one reading by a window, the other exploring a cabinet. Meyer was an accomplished painter of scenes and naturalistic landscapes.

The composition cleverly splits the view into two distinct elements to create added interest. We’re standing in, perhaps, the parlour, where an older lady sits to read by a gently lit window. A naturalistic coastal scene hangs above, which is reminiscent of Meyer’s style. Beyond, in the dining room, a younger woman is standing by an open cabinet, possibly where the crockery is kept. While on the window ledge behind her, several plants are brightly illuminated and deftly rendered.

The success of this superior work is two-fold - firstly, it’s finely executed with careful observation of the various effects of light and, secondly, it creates a story, a sense of narrative. It’s likely Meyer’s own home at Gammel Kongevej, Copenhagen where she lived with her mother, Marie, and three sisters, Marie (37), Julie (36) and Jenny (27).

Jenny worked at the Royal Porcelain Factory for Royal Copenhagen, which Emma painted in 1895, a year after our piece.

Born in Flensborg, Meyer’s father was a supreme court assessor and she was raised in comfortable surroundings. Usually, the family had one or two staff employed in domestic duties. She studied under various tutors of note including Emilie Mundt (1842-1922) and Marie Luplau (1848-1925) at the painting school for women, and, later, Harald Foss (1843-1922) and the eminent Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909).

With Foss, the landscape painter, she built upon her innate drawing ability by working among nature. Foss was a proponent of naturalism and believed that views should be represented realistically without over-embellishment or romantic indulgences. Meyer produced numerous landscapes throughout her career, many from the Silkeborg region, which were shown at the foremost venues in Denmark.

From here, she spent time with Krøyer and developed her figure painting nous. Indeed, the master’s hand is evident in this piece, which is reminiscent of his earlier style.

In 1885, with her career now underway, she debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen where she continued to exhibit until 1922, missing only a handful of years. Several accolades followed, including a scholarship from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1896), The Södring Encouragement Prize (1901) and a lifetime grant from the Louise Ravn-Hansen Fund (1916). It appears she remained in the family home throughout her life, dedicated to her art and the pursuit of excellence.

She’s represented at the Statens Museum for Kunst and the Vejle Kunstmuseum.

Signed on the reverse and held within a later frame. An inscription by the artist reads, ‘Best hung with light from the right side EM’.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 24½” x 27½” / 62cm x 70cm

Year of creation: 1894

Labels & Inscriptions: Signed/dated on the reverse with further inscription by the artist ‘Best hung with light from the right side EM’.

Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.

Condition: Cleaned. Craquelure in areas. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Artist’s auction maximum: £21,182 for ‘Et Interieur Fra Den Kgl.Porcellainsfabrik (1895)’, Oil on canvas, Copenhagen, 2011.

Our reference: BRV2071