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 Eckernförde (; , sometimes also ; , sometimes also ) is a city located in the of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel, it has a populat ...

. The two may well have worked together in 1643 on the altar screen for the north chapel in Halsted Priory Church on

Lolland Lolland (; formerly spelled ''Laaland'', literally "low land") is the List of islands of Denmark#List of 100 largest Danish islands, fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of . Located in the Kattegat, Belts and Sund area, it is part of Re ...

. 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 ( ) is the largest and most populous islands of Denmark, island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size) at 7,031 km2 (2715 sq. mi.). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 Januar ...

where he settled in

Holbæk Holbæk () is a town in Denmark and the County seat, seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 30,903 (1 January 2025).pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...

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 Danish 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 (Zealand), Denmark. In 2025, the ...

Kalundborg Kalundborg () is a Danish city with a population of 16,659 (1 January 2025),Helsingør Helsingør ( , ; ), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a coastal city in northeastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 63,953 on 1 January 2025, making it the 23rd most populated municipality in Denmark. Helsin ...

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

Crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Ancient Carthag ...

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, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...

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 (1658, burnt 1942); in Saint Olaf's Church, Helsingør (1662) and in

Gerlev Church Gerlev is a town in the Frederikssund Municipality in North Zealand, Denmark. It is located on Hornsherred, five kilometers south of Jægerspris and six kilometers southwest of Frederikssund. As of 2025, it has a population of 1,057. Reference ...

(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, Copenhagen *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