Herman Major Schirmer
Encyclopedia
Herman Major Schirmer was a Norwegian
architect and historian of art. Born in Kristiania
(now Oslo), he taught at the Royal Drawing School
for 39 years. The son of the German-born architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer
, he preferred teaching and studying architecture to designing structures, and is hailed as "one of the chief ideologues" of Norwegian romantic nationalism
. He was also a diligent writer and Norway's first national antiquary.
(1850–1930) and his uncle the psychiatrist Herman Wedel Major
(1814–54). At the age of 15, Schirmer was educated in drawing by the German-Norwegian architect and painter Franz Wilhelm Schiertz. Two years later, he worked in his father's architect office, before he in 1866 received a travel grant from the government. He travelled to Germany to study architecture and history of arts at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He also travelled to Italy
, Switzerland
and Sweden
in the end of the 1860s.
Even though Schirmer was not a productive architect, he did design the Bergens Kreditbank
building, a well-known villa at Frognerseteren
, a church in Hamar
and the Hotel Royal in Oslo. He became most famous through his work at the Royal Drawing School, which school he renamed to Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in 1911. Schirmer taught at the school for 39 years, from 1873 to 1912, where had a large influence on architecture in Norway. He notably drawed the first draft for the preservation of the Nidaros Cathedral
. In 1891, he founded Yngre Arkitektforening ("Younger Architect Association"). He chaired the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments from 1899 to 1911, and published many treatises in the society's yearbook.
On 3 June 1905, he married Annette Magdalene Riis Wiese (1874–1927). Schirmer was a diligent writer who penned Kristkirken i Nidaros ("The Christchurch in Nidaros") and Femti daterede norske bygninger fra middelalderen ("Fifty Dated Norwegian Buildings From the Middle Ages"). In 1913, five months before his death, he was appointed the first national antiquary of Norway.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
architect and historian of art. Born in Kristiania
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), he taught at the Royal Drawing School
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
for 39 years. The son of the German-born architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer
Heinrich Ernst Schirmer
Heinrich Ernst Schirmer was German-born architect most noted for his work in Norway.Schirmer worked in Norway from 1838 to 1883 and put his mark on a number of public buildings...
, he preferred teaching and studying architecture to designing structures, and is hailed as "one of the chief ideologues" of Norwegian romantic nationalism
Norwegian romantic nationalism
Norwegian romantic nationalism was a movement in Norway between 1840 and 1867 in art, literature, and popular culture that emphasized the aesthetics of Norwegian nature and the uniqueness of the Norwegian national identity...
. He was also a diligent writer and Norway's first national antiquary.
Biography
He was born on 20 June 1845 as the son of architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer (1814–1887) and his wife Sophie Ottilia Major (1821–61). His brother was Adolf SchirmerAdolf Schirmer
Adolf Schirmer was a Norwegian architect.Adolf Schirmer was born in Bærum, the son of architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer and Sophie Ottilia Major . He was married on 6 November 1878 to Hildur Koch...
(1850–1930) and his uncle the psychiatrist Herman Wedel Major
Herman Wedel Major
Herman Wedel Major was a Norwegian psychiatrist. He is regarded as the father of the first Norwegian psychiatric hospital, Gaustad Hospital, and of the Act of 1848 regarding mental illness. He and his family died in the ship collision between the paddle steamer SS Arctic and SS Vesta on 26...
(1814–54). At the age of 15, Schirmer was educated in drawing by the German-Norwegian architect and painter Franz Wilhelm Schiertz. Two years later, he worked in his father's architect office, before he in 1866 received a travel grant from the government. He travelled to Germany to study architecture and history of arts at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He also travelled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in the end of the 1860s.
Even though Schirmer was not a productive architect, he did design the Bergens Kreditbank
Bergens Kreditbank
Bergens Kreditbank was a Norwegian commercial bank based in Bergen. It was established in 1928 with its main offices in Vågsallmenningen. It merged with Bergens Privatbank in 1975 to establish Bergen Bank....
building, a well-known villa at Frognerseteren
Frognerseteren
Frognerseteren is a neighborhood of Oslo, Norway, located within Nordmarka. It is a popular starting point for recreational hiking and skiing in Oslo. Frognerseteren Station is the terminal station of the Holmenkollen Line of the Oslo Metro....
, a church in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
and the Hotel Royal in Oslo. He became most famous through his work at the Royal Drawing School, which school he renamed to Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in 1911. Schirmer taught at the school for 39 years, from 1873 to 1912, where had a large influence on architecture in Norway. He notably drawed the first draft for the preservation of the Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
. In 1891, he founded Yngre Arkitektforening ("Younger Architect Association"). He chaired the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments from 1899 to 1911, and published many treatises in the society's yearbook.
On 3 June 1905, he married Annette Magdalene Riis Wiese (1874–1927). Schirmer was a diligent writer who penned Kristkirken i Nidaros ("The Christchurch in Nidaros") and Femti daterede norske bygninger fra middelalderen ("Fifty Dated Norwegian Buildings From the Middle Ages"). In 1913, five months before his death, he was appointed the first national antiquary of Norway.