A group of trees in Dyrehaven

A group of trees in the Dyrehaven—the royal deer park north of Copenhagen—appears in this 1825 plein-air study at Ordrupgaard. Eckersberg was a pioneer of outdoor painting in Denmark, encouraging his students to work directly from nature rather than composing landscapes in the studio. The Dyrehaven, with its ancient oak trees and dappled light, was a favorite painting ground for Copenhagen artists. Eckersberg was a pioneering advocate of outdoor painting in Denmark, regularly taking his students into the Copenhagen countryside and harbors to work directly from nature.

The plein-air study shows Eckersberg observing natural light and foliage with the same analytical precision he brought to his studio work. The trees are rendered with careful attention to the specific patterns of bark, branches, and leaf canopy. The palette responds to the observed colors of outdoor light—cooler greens and blues than studio painting would produce. The handling is relatively fresh and direct, appropriate to work executed on location.