Danish royals reject "incomplete" palace wall-painting

Feb 18, 2010, 11:34 GMT

Copenhagen - Decorating a royal palace intended to be the future home of the Danish crown prince and his family proved a tough assignment for several Danish artists, media reports said Thursday.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary commissioned 10 contemporary artists to make paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations as part of the renovation of their future home, Frederik VIII's Palace, built 1750-1756.

John Korner's wall painting was apparently rejected by the royals, the Politiken daily reported.

Titled Svetlana and Mikkel, it depicts a fishing boat in a storm with a woman at the bow beside a fisherman.

Although the sketches for the painting were approved by the palace, the final result was rejected, Politiken said.

According to Korner, he was asked by the palace if he 'could finish it.' He said it was finished and 'that I cannot continue working on something I regard as complete.'

However, since the work was commissioned, 'customers have the right to ask questions during the process and say they are not satisfied,' he said.

Korner has prepared a new sketch that is under review. A decision is needed soon as the renovated palace was set to open for public tours between February 27 and May 30. Afterwards the royal couple are set to move in with their two children.

Another artist, Jeppe Hein, commissioned to make designs for the palace garden, has left the project and reached a settlement, according to a gallery owner with whom he cooperates.