On September 17th, 1884 the artists’ colony celebrated the 22nd birthday of the painter Anna Ancher’s younger brother John Brøndum. For the occasion a song had been produced titled ‘Song for John’ with illustrations by Peder Severin Krøyer.

Among other subjects from John’s life, Krøyer’s series of satirical drawings mocks his simultaneous double courtship of the Swedish painter Anna Palm and the Swedish singer Gerda Ahlborn during the summer.

John Brøndum trained as a shipmate and sailed the seven seas. He later received the nickname ‘The Admiral’. For a shorter period, he resided in the annex of his family’s hotel, which accordingly was named Admiralgaarden, a name which the building still carries today.

The exhibition of drawings is located on the first floor of the Plesner wing at Skagens Museum.

Krøyer’s drawings was stored rolled up for many years in Anchers Hus. In 2018 the drawings underwent conservation treatment thanks to a generous donation from the Oak Foundation.