"Cows at Rest in Front of the Barn" 
Michael Therkildsen (Danish, 1850 - 1925)
Oil on canvas
9 x 14 3/4 (15 3/4 x 21 1/4 frame) inches
Signed lower left
 
The son of farmer Hans Michael Therkildsen had his artistic debut at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in 1875 with paintings of street life scenes. In 1879 three of his pictures were purchased by the Kunstforeningen institution in Copenhagen. 
 
He preferred painting rural scenes and over time he found his interest increasing in depicting animals. During this time, he also became a talented landscape painter as well, having a particular skill for representing men and animals and the space surrounding them. In 1877 he won the Neuhausen Prize which was awarded to exceptional artists and designers.
 
In 1880 Therkildsen took a trip to Paris where he stayed for an extended period, receiving important inputs from the ever-changing artistic currents in France. There He developed his technique and his use of color during his stay. In 1882 and 1884 he continued his travels making his way to Italy where refined his skills still further. 
 
He received a medal at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition of 1887 for a major work that he exhibited. In that same year, the National Gallery of Denmark acquired the first of numerous paintings. His works were also displayed in other shows at the National Gallery. Therkildsen’s ability to create a joint harmony of figures and landscape were met with great public appreciation. 
 
He was awarded a silver medal at the Exposition Universelle in 1889 in Paris and in 1916 he became a Knight of Order of the Dannebrog. He died in Copenhagen in 1925. 
His pieces are held in numerous museum collections in Europe.