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As is often the case in Bloch’s work, knives and forks are brandished rather freely. Note in particular how the phallic decanter to the left may be close to an inviting mouth with slightly parted lips, but is equally - and unpleasantly - close to a knife and a fork with only two large prongs considerably more pointy than those of the young man’s fork.

A popular genre picture

In a Roman Osteria is an intensified version of a painting by one of Bloch’s major predecessors, Wilhelm Marstrand (1810-1873); specifically his charming Italian Osteria Scene from 1848 (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek). It is one of Bloch’s most popular genre pictures and is typical of his seductive ability to depict objects, details, and clothes with striking realism.

Commision pictures

Within Bloch’s body of work, the genre pictures constituted a break from the many commissions from the Danish Establishment. Friars with toothache, monks plucking chickens, coarse fishwives, and children hunting innocent ducks were among his favourite subjects. These pictures were usually very amusing, but also often rather strange and very much open to interpretation.

Details

  • Title: In a Roman Osteria
  • Creator: Carl Bloch
  • Creator Lifespan: 1834 København - 1890 København
  • Creator Nationality: Danish
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: København
  • Creator Birth Place: København
  • Date Created: 1866
  • Værktekst: Som det ofte er tilfældet hos Bloch, sidder knivene og gaflerne temmelig løst. Bemærk især, hvordan den falliske karaffel til venstre nok er nær ved en indbydende mund med let adskilte læber, men så sandelig også er ubehageligt nær ved såvel en kniv som en gaffel med kun to lange tænder, der er betydeligt mere spidsede end tænderne på den unge mands gaffel. Et populært genrebillede Fra et romersk osteria er en potensering af Blochs på flere felter store foregangsmand Wilhelm Marstrands (1810-1873) indladende Italiensk osteriscene fra 1848 (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek). Det er et af Blochs mest populære genrebilleder og typisk for hans forførende evne til at skildre genstande, detaljer og klæder med en frapperende realisme. Bestillingsopgaver I relation til Blochs store livsværk var genrebillederne et frikvarter fra de mange bestillingsopgaver fra det officielle Danmark. Munke med tandpine, munke, der plukker høns, grove fiskerkoner og børn, der jager sagesløse ænder, hørte til de foretrukne motiver. I reglen meget morsomme billeder, men også ret ofte mærkværdige billeder, der i høj grad er åbne for fortolkninger.
  • Teknik: Olie på lærred
  • Proveniens: Testamentarisk gave fra M.G. Melchior 1935
  • Provenance: Acquired 1935
  • Physical Dimensions: w177.5 x h148.5 cm (Without frame)
  • Featured Place: Roma
  • Dansk link: http://www.smk.dk/index.php?id=1198
  • Dansk Titel: Fra et romersk osteria
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: Statens Museum for Kunst, http://www.smk.dk/en/copyright/creative-commons/
  • Medium: Oil on canvas

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