Frederik Ferdinand Friis
Encyclopedia
Frederik Ferdinand Friis (16 December 1793 - 18 March 1865) was a Danish
architect, professor and Royal Building Inspector. His most important work is the Horsens State Prison.
in 16 December 1793 to master builder and fountain master Peder Friis and Henriette Johanne née West. He was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1814. He won small and large silver medals in 1815 and 1817, the small gold medal in 1821 for A military academy, and finally the large gold medal for A custom house in 1825.
He was articled to Peder Malling from 1822 to 1827 where he was responsible for the construction of the new main building for Sorø Academy
after the old one had been destroyed in a fire.
where he stayed until 1830. There he was received by Bertel Thorvaldsen
, a friend of Friis' parents, and assisted Just Mathias Thiele
who, in the late 1820s, was collecting material for his large four-volume Thorvaldsen biography. Friis interviewed Thorvaldsen about several details regarding his life and oeuvre and reported back to Thiele in Copenhagen.
Later, in 1839, Friis also became a member of the Thorvaldsen Museum Building Commission.
, Holbæk and Bornholm
counties.
from 1856 and was vice-director of the Art Academy from 1857.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architect, professor and Royal Building Inspector. His most important work is the Horsens State Prison.
Early life and education
Frederik Ferdinand Friis was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
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...
in 16 December 1793 to master builder and fountain master Peder Friis and Henriette Johanne née West. He was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1814. He won small and large silver medals in 1815 and 1817, the small gold medal in 1821 for A military academy, and finally the large gold medal for A custom house in 1825.
He was articled to Peder Malling from 1822 to 1827 where he was responsible for the construction of the new main building for Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy is a boarding school and public gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø, Denmark. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop Absalon founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated by the Crown after the Reformation, and ever since, on and off, it has served...
after the old one had been destroyed in a fire.
Rome and Bertel Thorvaldsen
In 1828, Friis travelled to RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he stayed until 1830. There he was received by Bertel Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish-Icelandic sculptor of international fame, who spent most of his life in Italy . Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen into a Danish/Icelandic family of humble means, and was accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts when he was eleven years old...
, a friend of Friis' parents, and assisted Just Mathias Thiele
Just Mathias Thiele
Just Mathias Thiele was a Danish writer and art historian. A central personage during the Danish Golden Age in the first half of the 18th century, he contributed to Danish cultural life in a number of capacities...
who, in the late 1820s, was collecting material for his large four-volume Thorvaldsen biography. Friis interviewed Thorvaldsen about several details regarding his life and oeuvre and reported back to Thiele in Copenhagen.
Later, in 1839, Friis also became a member of the Thorvaldsen Museum Building Commission.
Career
After his return to Denmark in 1831, Friis was appointed Royal Building Inspector of Zealand and in 1850 for Copenhagen, FrederiksborgFrederiksborg County
Frederiksborg Amt is a former county in the north of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Effective January 1, 2007, the county was abolished and merged into Region Hovedstaden ....
, Holbæk and Bornholm
Bornholm County
Bornholms Amt is a former county on the island of Bornholm in easternmost Denmark.-Short history:The county was established in 1662, replacing the former Hammershus Len. It was the only county unchanged by the administrative reforms of 1793 and 1970 consequently occupying the same territory from...
counties.
At the Academy
He became a member of the Art Academy in Copenhagen in 1833. A titular professor in 1852, he applied unsuccessfully for vacant positions as professor in 1855 and 1856. He was in residency at CharlottenborgCharlottenborg Palace
Charlottenborg Palace is a large town mansion located on the corner of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, it has served as the base of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts since its foundation in 1754...
from 1856 and was vice-director of the Art Academy from 1857.