Christian Skredsvig
Encyclopedia
Christian Skredsvig was a Norwegian painter and writer. He is especially well known for his picturesque paintings.
, Buskerud
in 1854. When he was 15 years old he became a pupil at the Eckersberg drawing and paint school in Christiania
(now Oslo
). He later studied in Copenhagen
, Munich
and Paris
. In 1881 he won, as the only Norwegian artist, the gold medal for the painting Une ferme à Venoix (A farm in Venoix
) at the Saloon in Paris. After many years in Paris he moved back to Norway in 1886 and settled in Fleskum, Bærum
. Skredsvig's famous neo-romantic
painting Seljefløiten (The Sallow Flute, 1889) was painted by the lake Dælivannet
in Bærum.
In 1894, he moved to Eggedal
in Sigdal
municipality where he built his home Hagan. In the natural landscape of Eggedal, Skredsvig found inspiration and motives to paint. The most famous are perhaps Idyll and Jupsjøen (The Deep Sea). In 1896 Skredsvig's good friend and fellow student from the years in Munich, the painter Theodor Kittelsen
, also settled in Sigdal, shortly after having visited Skredsvig in his new home.
Skredsvig's autobiography Dager og netter blant kunstnere (Days and nights amongst artists) was published in 1908, and was followed by the novels Møllerens Søn (The miller's son) and Evens hjemkomst (Even's home-coming).
, a daughter of Frithjof M. Plahte
, but was divorced in 1894. In 1898 Skredsvig married Beret Berg who was from Eggedal. They had four children. Skredsvig lived in Hagan in Eggedal until his death in 1924.
with a view over the lake Solevann and the mountain Andersnatten
. Skredsvig's former home has been a museum since 1970. The furnishings and artifacts are preserved as they were when Skredsvig lived there. His own work and paintings by his friends still hang on the walls, all together about 150 originals pieces of art. The former residence still belongs to members of the Skredsvig family. The municipality of Sigdal
is responsible for maintenance and management of the museum.
Biography
Christian Skredsvig was born in ModumModum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
, Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
in 1854. When he was 15 years old he became a pupil at the Eckersberg drawing and paint school in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(now Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
). He later studied in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1881 he won, as the only Norwegian artist, the gold medal for the painting Une ferme à Venoix (A farm in Venoix
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
) at the Saloon in Paris. After many years in Paris he moved back to Norway in 1886 and settled in Fleskum, Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
. Skredsvig's famous neo-romantic
Neo-romanticism
The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in music, painting and architecture. It has been used with reference to very late 19th century and early 20th century composers such as Gustav Mahler particularly by Carl Dahlhaus who uses it as synonymous with late Romanticism...
painting Seljefløiten (The Sallow Flute, 1889) was painted by the lake Dælivannet
Dælivannet
Dælivannet is a lake in Bærum, Akershus county, Norway. It lies just beneath the Kolsås hill on the East side. The lake contains perch and pike and has a rich bird life....
in Bærum.
In 1894, he moved to Eggedal
Eggedal
Eggedal consisting of the northwestern half of Sigdal Kommune in Buskerud county, Norway.-Location:Eggedal is located to the west of the Norefjell mountain range. In all other directions, the terrain rises quite steeply. There is farmland on the valley floor. The sprawling, meandering valley of...
in Sigdal
Sigdal
Sigdal is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestfoss. -Background:...
municipality where he built his home Hagan. In the natural landscape of Eggedal, Skredsvig found inspiration and motives to paint. The most famous are perhaps Idyll and Jupsjøen (The Deep Sea). In 1896 Skredsvig's good friend and fellow student from the years in Munich, the painter Theodor Kittelsen
Theodor Kittelsen
Theodor Severin Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, as well as for his illustrations of fairy tales and legends, especially of trolls.-Biography:Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in...
, also settled in Sigdal, shortly after having visited Skredsvig in his new home.
Skredsvig's autobiography Dager og netter blant kunstnere (Days and nights amongst artists) was published in 1908, and was followed by the novels Møllerens Søn (The miller's son) and Evens hjemkomst (Even's home-coming).
Personal life
Christian Skredsvig was married for 12 years to Maggie Plathe from HøvikHøvik
Høvik is a suburban centre in the municipality of Bærum, Akershus, Norway. Mainly a residential area, its population is 4,311.Høvik has a church, a small shopping area and a railway station served by Drammensbanen. Flytoget does not stop at Høvik. Nearby is the Henie-Onstad Art Centre...
, a daughter of Frithjof M. Plahte
Frithjof M. Plahte
Frithjof Møinichen Plahte was a Norwegian merchant and landowner. After a career in the timber business, he settled in Bærum where he invested in business and in several farms...
, but was divorced in 1894. In 1898 Skredsvig married Beret Berg who was from Eggedal. They had four children. Skredsvig lived in Hagan in Eggedal until his death in 1924.
Hagan
Hagan lies high up in EggedalEggedal
Eggedal consisting of the northwestern half of Sigdal Kommune in Buskerud county, Norway.-Location:Eggedal is located to the west of the Norefjell mountain range. In all other directions, the terrain rises quite steeply. There is farmland on the valley floor. The sprawling, meandering valley of...
with a view over the lake Solevann and the mountain Andersnatten
Andersnatten
Andersnatten is a mountain south in the valley Eggedal, in the municipality Sigdal in Buskerud, Norway.The southeast wall is popular among climbers, both summer and winter. The first route was established in 1942 by Einar Hoff Hansen and Egmont Nørregaard....
. Skredsvig's former home has been a museum since 1970. The furnishings and artifacts are preserved as they were when Skredsvig lived there. His own work and paintings by his friends still hang on the walls, all together about 150 originals pieces of art. The former residence still belongs to members of the Skredsvig family. The municipality of Sigdal
Sigdal
Sigdal is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestfoss. -Background:...
is responsible for maintenance and management of the museum.