Sankt Nicolai Kirke Koege Denmark altar HDR

Lorentz Jørgensen (before 1644 – after 1681) was a Danish woodcarver. He was possibly trained by Hans Gudewerdt in Eckernförde. The two may well have worked together in 1643 on the altar screen for the north chapel in Halsted Priory Church on Lolland. His career then became intricately related to that of Christoffer Knudsen Urne (1594–1663) who was appointed lensman (vassal) at Tranekær on

Langeland Langeland (, ) is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km2 (c. 110 square miles) and, as of 1 January 2018, has a population of 12,446.

in 1642. It was there Jørgensen completed his first documented work in the local church.Hanne Jönsson, "Lorentz Jørgensen"
''Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs kunstnerleksikon''. Retrieved 31 December 2012. In 1645, Jørgensen moved with Urne to

Zealand Zealand ( da, Sjælland ) at 7,031 km2 is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020. It is the 1 ...

where he settled in Holbæk which became the centre of his activity. The pulpit in Holmstrup Church was the first of many works he created for churches in the area. From there, he went on to design works for

Køge Køge (, older spelling ''Kjøge'') is a seaport on the coast of Køge Bugt (''Bay of Køge'') 39 km southwest of Copenhagen. It is the principal town and seat of Køge Municipality, Region Sjælland, Denmark. In 2022, the urban area had a ...

, Kalundborg and

Helsingør Helsingør ( , ; sv, Helsingör), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a city in eastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 62,686 on 1 January 2018. Helsingør and Helsingborg in Sweden together form the northe ...

. The altarpiece in Egebjerg Church (1648) is interesting in that it depicts the

Crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagi ...

in the centrepiece, rather than the

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, ...

as was usual, and also contains figures of Christoffer Urne and his wife Sophie Lindenow."Egebjerg Kirke, Ods Herred"
''Danmarks Kirker'', p. 2232. Retrieved 2 January 2013. Jørgensen is one of those woodcarvers who had a well defined, easily recognizable style. There is therefore little doubt about the origin of his works, even those which were left unsigned. His subjects are repeatedly displayed in a gallery of statuesque figures. His talents are above all evident in the ornamental rococo framework around the panels of his many altarpieces.

Works

;Signed: * Baptismal font, Tranekær Church (1644) * Altarpiece for Tranekær Church (1644, now in Stoense Church) * Pulpit in Holmstrup Church (1647) * Altarpiece in St Nicholas Church, Køge (1652) * Figures for the altarpiece in Sorø Abbey Church (1656) * Altarpieces in

Asminderød Church Asminderød Church ( Danish: Asminderød Kirke) is a parish church in Asminderød, now part of Fredensborg, Fredensborg Municipality som 40 km north of central Copenhagen, Denmark. History A small Romanesque church was built at the site in the fi ...

(1658, burnt 1942); in Saint Olaf's Church, Helsingør (1662) and in Gerlev Church (1667) * Pulpits in Sønder Jernløse Church (1676) and in Nørre Jernløse Church (1679) * Crucifix in Butterup Church (1670) ;Attributed: *Altar screen, Halsted Priory Church (1643) *Altarpiece and pulpit, Egebjerg Church (1648) *Altarpieces: Vig Church (1650),

Church of Our Lady, Kalundborg The Church of Our Lady (''Vor Frue Kirke, Kalundborg'') is a historical building at Kalundborg in northwestern Zealand, Denmark. The precise date of construction is not known with any certainty, though its architecture indicates the early part of ...

(1650); Bregninge Church (1654); Hjembæk Church (1655); Raklev Church (1668); Skibinge Church (1669); Tveje Merløse Church (ca. 1670); Ubby Church (1677) *Pulpits in Fuglsbølle Church (1644); Hjembæk Church (1651); Højby Church (1656); Store Tåstrup Church (1657); Butterup Church (1660); St. Peders Church, Næstved (1671); Brønshøj Church (1678) *Epitaph frames: Holbæk Church, St Nicholas Church, Køge and Holmens Church, Copenhafen *Crucifix, Hjembæk Church

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jorgensen, Lorentz Danish woodcarvers Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 17th-century Danish woodworkers 17th-century Danish sculptors Year of birth uncertain Danish Baroque sculptors