Painter. Christian August Lorentzen, a Danish painter, was a well-recognized painter of the 18th century. Born the son of Hans Peter Lorentzen and Maria Christina Hansdatter, his father was a watchmaker. He arrived in Copenhagen around 1771 where he frequented the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, but it is unclear whether he received formal training. He may have been self-taught. After arriving in Copenhagen, he soon became a portrait painter. From 1779 to 1782 he went abroad to develop his skills, visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, and Paris where he copied old masters. In 1792 he traveled to Norway to paint prospects. He was the instructor of one of the painters of the Golden Age of Danish painting, Martinus Rørbye, who painted before 1828 his portrait, "C. A. Lorentzen in his Studio." He exercised great influence on the next generation of painters such as Rørbye among others. After returning to Denmark in 1782, he became a more versatile artist. With much detail in oil-on-canvas, he documented for historians the key battles from the English Wars between 1801 and 1814. This can be seen in a number of paintings, such as his 1801 "Slaget på Reden" or "Battle of Copenhagen," which is located at the Danish Museum of National History, and his 1807 "Den rædsomste nat" or "The Awful Night," which is located at the Danish National Gallery. Later in his career, he mainly painted portraits, landscapes and scenes from the comedies of Norwegian author Ludvig Holberg. He was a professor at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen from 1803 and until his death in 1828. He followed Nicolai Abildgaard as the Academy Director from 1809 through 1810. His upright grave marker is adorned with an artist's brush and palette.