Danish Artists in Rome (Blunck, Hansen)

I've very much liked this painting of A Group of Danish Artists in Rome ever since discovering it on Google Art several years ago.  It was done in 1837 by the Danish painter Constantin Hansen.  

This morning I found a similar painting titled Danish Artists in the Osteria La Genosa in Rome.  It was also painted in 1837, by the artist Ditlev Blunck.     It is, in my opinion, an attractive and surprisingly modern-looking artwork.  

The existence of these two paintings with such similar titles and subjects, both painted in the same year, suggests a story behind them.  A contest of some kind perhaps?  or just a competitive feeling between the two artists?   It would be interesting to know more.