Torderød Manor, interior

A woman is seen from behind. 
She’s sitting on a piano stool, playing a piano. 
Her dress is white with puff sleeves and a yellow belt at the waist. 

Blue and yellow are repeated in this interior.
Blue wallpaper, yellow curtains, an upholstered chair in yellow, and a vase filled with yellow sunflowers. 

Hanging on the wall is a portrait of King Carl Johan, king of Sweden and Norway from 1818 to 1844. 

The picture of the king is surrounded by a gold frame that shines against the blue background – the colours of the Swedish flag dominate the room. 

Here, Nørregaard has painted an interior from Torderød manor on Jeløy just outside Moss. 

The estate was built by David Chrystie, a merchant and ship owner.  

At the time of this painting, the property was the residence of its last owner, Elisa Chrystie – who championed women’s struggles and established a bequest for the "Education of Women for Practical Business".  

We believe that Nørregaard visited her at Torderød manor in 1898. 

The painting accentuates Nørregaard's skills – with the colourful flower arrangement on the piano in yellow and red, the light streaming in from the window and falling on the wall and floor.  

Note the translucent white dress, the yellow cover on the chair and the almost transparent curtains that give the room a light and airy feel. 

Today, Torderød is owned by the municipality of Moss, and the music room has been reconstructed as it appears in Nørregaard's painting.