Wilhelm Marstrand

Vilhelm Nikolaj Marstrand (December 24, 1810-March 25, 1873), painter and illustrator, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Nicolai Jacob Marstrand, mechanic and inventor, and Petra Ottilia Smith. Marstrand is one of the best known artists belonging to the Golden Age of Danish Painting.

Career development

He returned to Denmark at the end of 1841, stopping in Munich and Paris along the way. In Denmark he tried to bring back that which he learned in Italy, and let it develop in his home culture.

Related Topics:
1841 - Paris

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He became a member of the Academy June 19, 1843, after having submitted the painting "Erasmus Montanus" as his admissions piece. He became a professor at the Academy in 1848. He strived to let his students develop after their own skills and interests, among these being Peder Severin Krøyer, Michael Ancher, Carl Bloch and Kristian Zahrtmann.

Related Topics:
June 19 - 1843 - 1848 - Peder Severin Krøyer - Michael Ancher - Carl Bloch - Kristian Zahrtmann

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He continued to travel regularly in Europe throughout his life, to (London, Vienna (1853-1854), Belgium, but especially to Italy and Rome), sometimes in the company of fellow artists P.C. Skovgaard and Johan Adolph Kittendorff, and art historian and critic Niels Lauritz Høyen.

Related Topics:
Europe - London - Vienna - Belgium - Italy - Rome - P.C. Skovgaard - Niels Lauritz Høyen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He continued to draw inspiration from Italy in his paintings. He drew also inspiration from literature and the theatre, portraying scenes from Don Quixote by Cervantes, as well as from Erasmus Montanus, a play by Danish playwright Ludvig Holberg. Holberg's works would provide Marstrand with much inspiration.

Related Topics:
Don Quixote - Ludvig Holberg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And he continued to paint genre paintings, and to make sketches, caricatures and drawings that capture the spirit of that time with sharp satire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marstrand married Margrethe Christine Weidemann on June 8, 1850 with whom he had five children. His family became also a source for his painting. One can see certain similarities in his portraits of the children to those made by Constantin Hansen, one of his contemporaries, and another student of Eckersberg.

Related Topics:
June 8 - 1850 - Constantin Hansen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He began painting portaits seriously again in the late 1850s, depicting some of the most important figures of the time, including artist Constantin Hansen (1852, 1862), Grundtvig (1863), N.L. Høyen (1869), Gottlieb Bindesbøll, and his earlier portraiture of Christen Købke 1839.

Related Topics:
1850 - Grundtvig - 1863 - 1869 - Christen Købke - 1839

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the 1850s and 1860s he began to paint religious themes, especially after the death of his wife in 1867. He focused also again on paintings with mythological and historical themes. He painted mural decoration for King Christian IV's chapel in Roskilde Cathedral (Domkirke) between 1864-1866. These featured scenes from the life of the monarch. He painted a large altarpiece at Faaborg Church. In 1871, shortly before his death, he delivered large wallpaintings made for the University of Copenhagen's Celebration Hall (Festsal). These are considered some of his best historical paintings.

Related Topics:
1867 - King Christian IV - Roskilde - 1864 - 1866 - 1871 - University of Copenhagen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was named Director of the Academy during two periods: the first period was from 1853-1857, the other period was from 1863 until his death in 1873. He was named State Councillor (etatsråd) in 1867.

Related Topics:
1853 - 1857 - 1863 - 1873 - 1867

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the last ten years of this life his works became very intimate. A series of paintings made during the last 6 years of his life featured a naked woman, while others are deeply religious.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In October 1871 he was struck with a brain hemorrhage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~