Jørgen Sonne (Birkerød 1801-1890 Copenhagen)

After a brief spell at the Danish military academy, Sonne studied at the Kunstakademi in Copenhagen and the academy at Munich, before spending ten years (1831-1841) in Rome. However, he maintained his interest in the military and followed the Danish army as an artist during the First Schleswig War (1848-1850), during which these watercolours were made. Dannevirke is a system of defensive earthworks initiated by the Danes at some point before 500 AD. It remained in periodic use until the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The Battle of Fredericia was fought on 6 July 1849 and was an important victory for the Danes. Sonne has depicted the aftermath of the battle, with the bodies of the wounded being carried from the smoking battlefield.