In The Grasslands of Jutland: The Art of Christen Dalsgaard

‘Constantin Hansen’s portrait of painter Christen Dalsgaard’ (1862) (Sorø Kunstmuseum)

For the most part of his artistic career Christen Dalsgaard was a painter of altarpieces and Bible scenes albeit this thematic approach being arguably “fading away”, giving way to classicism and other more romantic subjects, during the 19th century. Fortunately in spite of his seemingly strong religious leanings Christen Dalsgaard (like his contemporaries Julius Exner and Frederik Vermehren) also became a genre painter specialized in national romantic folk scenes rooted in the grasslands of Jutland.

The most prominent feature about Dalsgaard was his ability to tell stories through his paintings, stories featuring people clad in the traditional costumes of rural Denmark. One of these works is the famous painting Mon han dog ikke skulle komme (I wonder when he will come home) from 1879, which is doubtlessly one of Dalsgaard’s best works. The painting features a young peasant woman standing by an open doorway set in stark contrast to the sunlit landscape of houses in the background. The overall scene creates a vivid effect with the distant green fields under the evocative light of the sun. One can almost smell the wet grass outside.

Next is an abridged biography of the artist.

Biography

The son of the estate owner, Christen Dalsgaard was born on 30 October 1824 at Krabbesholm Manor near Skive in Jutland. He showed early signs of artistic talent, and received training as a craft painter. In the spring of 1841 Niels Rademacher, a visiting landscape painter, encouraged the young artist and convinced his parents of their son’s talent.

Later that year he traveled to Copenhagen and began his art studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Art (Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in October 1841. In December 1841 he began private studies with painter Martinus Rørbye.

In 1843 he began his studies at the Academy’s freehand drawing school, and the following year at the Academy’s plaster school. In 1844 Dalsgaard came under the influence of art historian Niels Lauritz Høyen. Dalsgaard was a loyal follower of Høyen’s artistic ideals, and forwent the customary journey to Italy, choosing rather to concentrate on themes closer to home.

In March 1846 he began studying at the Academy’s model school under professors Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Johann Ludwig Lund and Martinus Rørbye. He had his exhibition debut at Charlottenborg in 1847 and continued exhibiting there every year with few exceptions.

In 1855 Dalsgaard painted his first altarpiece at the church in his hometown of Skive. He went on to paint a number of other altarpieces in the years to come. He had his big breakthrough in 1856 with the painting Mormoner på besøg hos en tømrer på landet (Mormons visit a country carpenter). The painting was donated to the Danish National Gallery (Statens Museum for Kunst) in 1871.

He married Hansine Marie Hansen on 21 August 1857. The newlyweds purchased a house in Frederiksberg. Dalsgaard exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris for the first time in 1878.

He painted his famous painting I wonder when he will come home (Mon han dog ikke skulle komme?) in 1879. He was named a professor at the Academy of Art in 1892, and quit his position at Sorø Academy.

Christen Dalsgaard died on 11 February 1907 in Sorø. In 1914 the artist’s widow contributed a portion of his collection of folk costumes to the National Museum. She died in Sorø on 3 November of that same year.

A collection of Dalsgaard’s work can be found at the Skive Art Museum. Other paintings can be found at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, among other museums.

To read Christen Dalsgaard’s entire biography click HERE

DONATE

Source

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes