Extreme rare painting with a episode from Russian-Napoleonic Wars depicts Russian cossack on horseback on winter battle field. The author of this military painting, important Danish painter, sculptor and lithographer Niels Simeonsen (Copenhagen 1807 - 1895 Frederiksberg). This painting (as a pair to item No. 3033) came from renowed collection of works by Simonsen , sold by auction Bonhams in february 2012. Niels Simonsen mainly worked as battle painter . He studied at the Art Academy in Copenhagen, also got private study by the history painter J.L. Lund´s studio. At first time he trained for lithographer, and in 1827 he had his debut at Charlottenborg, but already the following year, shortly after he had won the little silver medal, he turned to sculpture and orders were given by that models. His teacher J.L. Lund plans to conduct a series of reliefs to a hall at Christiansborg, 2 of them, dancing figures, exhibited in 1828. In 1829 he received as a pupil of the great sculptor the silver medal for a model figure and the small gold medal for the 1830 exhibition relief, In 1834/1845 he is in Munich (since 1842 - member of Munich Academy), where begun his carrier as painter. he travelled to Algiers 1840, In 1854-1883 - professor and member of the Academy in Copenhagen, and since 1864 - member of Academy in Stockholm. In 1870 he worked in Rome. His paintings (mostly pirate representations and scenes from Napoleonic and Schleswig´s Wars)  are located in Copenhagen, State Museum of Art, castles Amalienborg and Rosenborg, city Museum of Braunschweig; Mannheim, Munich (Neue Pinakothek) and Regensburg. For great gallery of Simonsen´s paintings see in Google

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Niels_Simonsen

Provenance: Bonhams, London, sale on 16.02.2012, Lot No. 394

Literature: "General Artist´s Lexicon " by Thieme/Becker, Leipzig, 1999; AKL Index.

Inscription: signed lower left.

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 8 2/3" x h 11" (22 x 28 cm), framed w 14 1/4 " x h 17" (36 x 43 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.