Wilhelm and Henny Hansen already owned a large and esteemed collection of Danish art when they began building their famous collection of French art. Wilhelm’s interest in art was sparked in childhood, and Henny must have shared this enthusiasm, for the couple had hardly gotten married before making their first art purchase. The collection represents Danish art across the entire nineteenth century, from the Golden Age period to the couple’s own contemporaries, spearheaded by the most original talents of the time such as Vilhelm Hammershøi and L.A. Ring.