Knud Bergslien

Knud Bergslien, Knud Larsen Bergslien, ( born May 15, 1827 in Voss, † November 27, 1908 in Kristiania ) was a Norwegian painter of national romanticism.

Life

Bergslien grew up on a small farm in Voss. He applied with 18 years as a soldier in Bergen. After two years of garrison duty he succeeded because of his talent in drawing, to begin an art education at the landscape painter Hans Reusch. After two years he was able to attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp by the support of the citizens of Bergen from 1849 to 1852. During this time he was also from 1850 to 1851 in Paris, where he took lessons with Charles Gleyre. 1852-1854 he was then a teacher at the drawing and painting in Bergen.

He was a good portrait painter appreciated soon. 1855 to 1869 he lived in Dusseldorf. Here he took over from Adolph Tidemand the issue of portrayal of life among the people, as did other painter of the Düsseldorf school. At the same time he devoted himself to themes from Norwegian history. A patron had given him the Heimskringla of Snorri Sturluson during the study period. He advised him to paint the Norwegian heroes. A number of these paintings was bought by German and English collectors.

In 1869 he returned to Norway and lived in Christiania. He got a studio in the building of the Storting. As the founder of the art school in Christiania Johan Fredrik Eckerberg 1870 died, Bergslien Head of School, which was then named after him " mountain Liens Malerskole ". For many years Bergslien delivered at the Art Association of Christiania pictures to draw.

After 1869 Bergslien mainly painted portraits, but the best known are his history paintings are in numerous reproductions in circulation. These include the Birkebeiner (1869 ), King Sverre in snow storm (1870 ), The Battle of Hafrsfjord (1872 ). His picture The coronation of King Oscar II (1874 ) earned him a royal Wasaorden.

A whole generation of Norwegian painter has gone with him to school and influenced by him.