Peter Ilsted

Peter Ilsted, along with Vilhelm Hammershøi and Carl Holsøe, formed a powerful triumvirate on the Danish art scene at the turn of the 20th century. Ilsted is best known for his intimate and detailed paintings of everyday life, often depicting indoor environments, interiors, and people engaged in their daily activities. He trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, studying under Kristian Zahrtmann and Holger Grønvold.

When Ilsted's sister Ida married Hammershøi in 1891, the two artists became friends, and together with Holsøe, they explored interior painting, which would gain wide appreciation both in Denmark and abroad. Like Hammershøi, Ilsted often used his own home as the setting for his interiors and his family as models. In the painting currently up for auction, we see one of his daughters leaning against the window sill, reading a book. Ilsted allows sunlight to stream in through the window, illuminating the room and creating a scene filled with tranquility and intimacy.