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The painting, a work by Danish painter Jørgen Roed, depicts the interior of the Lutheran Cathedral in the city of Ribe, one of the most well-known and best-preserved Romanesque monuments in Denmark. It is now housed in the Hirschsprung Collection in Copenhagen.

In 1836, Roed produced several depictions dedicated to this church, whose antiquity is splendidly reflected in the numerous architectural styles represented within it. The original structure dates back to 860 and is attributed to Saint Ansgar, the Archbishop of Hamburg and Bremen. The "Apostle of the North" – as Ansgar is remembered for his evangelization of Denmark – founded the cathedral with the consent of the Viking king Horik II, whose policy was always inspired by great tolerance towards Christianity. Throughout its long history, the building underwent numerous restoration works, including expansions, renovations, and modernizations. The precious pulpit, for instance, was made in 1597 by the master carver from Odense, Jens Asmussen.