Nils Bergslien
Encyclopedia
Nils Nilsen Bergslien was a Norwegian illustrator, painter and sculptor. Nils Berglien was a romantic artist, he was inspired both from legends, fairy tales, the history of Norway and the west Norwegian mountain landscape.
in Hordaland
county, Norway
. He was a son of Nils Larsen Bergslien and Sigvor Nilsdatter. His uncles were painter and artist Knud Bergslien
and sculptor Brynjulf Bergslien
. He was married to Johanna Jacobsdatter Møkletun (1853- 1921). The couple settled in Eidfjord
. He died in Eidfjord in 1928.
from 1871 to 1872, 1873 and accompanied his uncle on a study trip to Germany
and Austria
. From 1876-79, he studied at the Art Academy in Munich
under Otto Seitz (1846-1912). During 1874 or 1875, he undertook a study tour in Telemark
with Gerhard Munthe
and 1880, he traveled with the sculptor Axel Ender (1853-1920) and the Danish poet Holger Drachmann
over the Hardangervidda
mountain plateau.
Nils Bergslien was known for his illustrations of folk life, his puck
pictures, and for motives from legends and fairytales. His series Nissealbum was published in 1886. He decorated several hotel rooms and churches. He made caricature illustrations and designed the title vignette
of the satirical magazine Vikingen
. He designed a memorial of fiddler Ola Mosafinn
, the bronze relief Ridande Vossabrudlaup.
Over the years the Bergslien a number of commissions. 1886 he created the decorations to the tourist ship Britannia, from 1899 to 1900 he was decorated several rooms in the Hotel Café Boulevard Norway and Bergen (destroyed by fire 1916) and in Tyssedal Hotel, and later he made the national romantic decorations for the dining room in the Hotel Vøringfoss in Eidfjord.
At the Bergslien Park in Voss
are monuments honoring the three Bergslien artists, Brynjulf, Knud and Nils. The Nils Bergslien Gallery (Galleri Nils Bergslien) was established by Eidfjord municipality which owns and operates the gallery. It contains original work by Nils Berglien.
Personal life
Bergslien was born in VossVoss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
county, 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...
. He was a son of Nils Larsen Bergslien and Sigvor Nilsdatter. His uncles were painter and artist Knud Bergslien
Knud Bergslien
Knud Larsen Bergslien was a Norwegian painter, art teacher and master artist. In his art, he frequently portrayed the lives of the Norwegian people, their history and heroes of the past...
and sculptor Brynjulf Bergslien
Brynjulf Bergslien
Brynjulf Larsen Bergslien was a noted Norwegian sculptor.-Background:Bergslien was born in Voss in Hordaland county, Norway. He was a son of Lars Bergeson Bergslien and Kirsten Knutsdotter Gjelle. He was a brother of noted painter and master artist Knud Bergslien...
. He was married to Johanna Jacobsdatter Møkletun (1853- 1921). The couple settled in Eidfjord
Eidfjord
Eidfjord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Eidfjord was separated from Ulvik May 1, 1891....
. He died in Eidfjord in 1928.
Career
Nils Bergslien was educated by his uncle Knud Bergslien and Morten Müller (1828-1911). He attended Morten Müller's art school in KristianiaOslo
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...
from 1871 to 1872, 1873 and accompanied his uncle on a study trip to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. From 1876-79, he studied at the Art Academy in 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...
under Otto Seitz (1846-1912). During 1874 or 1875, he undertook a study tour in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
with Gerhard Munthe
Gerhard Munthe (painter)
Gerhard Peter Frantz Munthe was a Norwegian painter and illustrator.-Background:Munthe was born in Elverum to physician Christopher Pavels Munthe and his wife Christine Margrethe Pavels Aabel . He was a brother of historian Hartvig Andreas Munthe, writer Margrethe Munthe and military officer...
and 1880, he traveled with the sculptor Axel Ender (1853-1920) and the Danish poet Holger Drachmann
Holger Drachmann
Holger Henrik Herholdt Drachmann , was a Danish poet and dramatist. He is an outstanding figure of the Modern Break-Through....
over the Hardangervidda
Hardangervidda
The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a...
mountain plateau.
Nils Bergslien was known for his illustrations of folk life, his puck
Puck (mythology)
In English folklore, Puck is a mythological fairy or mischievous nature sprite. Puck is also a generalised personification of land spirits. In more recent times, the figure of Robin Goodfellow is identified as a puck.-Etymology:...
pictures, and for motives from legends and fairytales. His series Nissealbum was published in 1886. He decorated several hotel rooms and churches. He made caricature illustrations and designed the title vignette
Vignette (graphic design)
Vignettes, in graphic design, are decorative designs usually in books, used both to separate sections or chapters and to decorate borders.In Descriptive, or Analytical Bibliography for the hand-press period a vignette refers to an engraved design printed using a copper-plate press, on a page that...
of the satirical magazine Vikingen
Vikingen
Vikingen is a former Norwegian satirical magazine, published from 1862 to 1932. It was founded by printer Henning Tønsberg. Among the contributors were the satirical illustrators Olaf Krohn, Andreas Bloch, Gustav Lærum and Olaf Gulbransson.-History:...
. He designed a memorial of fiddler Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn
Ola Mosafinn was a Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and composer. Mosafinn is regarded among the more important fiddlers in Norway in the late 19th century....
, the bronze relief Ridande Vossabrudlaup.
Over the years the Bergslien a number of commissions. 1886 he created the decorations to the tourist ship Britannia, from 1899 to 1900 he was decorated several rooms in the Hotel Café Boulevard Norway and Bergen (destroyed by fire 1916) and in Tyssedal Hotel, and later he made the national romantic decorations for the dining room in the Hotel Vøringfoss in Eidfjord.
At the Bergslien Park in Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
are monuments honoring the three Bergslien artists, Brynjulf, Knud and Nils. The Nils Bergslien Gallery (Galleri Nils Bergslien) was established by Eidfjord municipality which owns and operates the gallery. It contains original work by Nils Berglien.