Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg was a Danish painter. He was born in Blåkrog in the Duchy of Schleswig, now the southern part of Jutland in Denmark, and with his fine art career went on to lay the foundation for the period of art known as the Golden Age of Danish Painting*. He is referred to as the Father of Danish painting.

In 1786 his family moved to Blans, a village near the picturesque Alssund, where he enjoyed drawing pictures of the surrounding countryside, and taking sailing tours in his father's boat. After confirmation he began his training as a painter under church and portrait painter, Jes Jessen of Aabenraa (1797-1800). He continued his training at 17 years of age under Josiah Jacob Jessen in Flensborg, where he beca...