Per Lysne
Encyclopedia
Per Lysne was an artist most associated with bringing the traditional Norwegian folk art of Rosemaling
to the United States.
, Sogn
, Norway
. He had been trained in rosemaling by his father, Anders Olsen, an artist whose work was recognized at the Paris Exposition
in 1893. Lysne immigrated to Stoughton, Wisconsin
with his wife in 1907. He specialized in redecorating antique chests and painting large platters. He developed a thriving rosemaling enterprise and taught the art to a select few. His signature piece, the smorgasbord plate, was not an object that typically had been decorated, but Lysne's new form had a pervasive influence.
The Stoughton Historical Museum has an exhibit devoted to Mr. Lysne's work. Many of his decorative chests can be seen at Little Norway
museum in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
.
Rosemaling
Rosemåling, or rosemaling, Norwegian for "decorative painting", is the name of a form of decorative folk art that originated in the rural valleys of Norway.Some art historians interpret "rose" as a reference to the rose flower, although the floral elements are often...
to the United States.
Biography
Lysne was born in LaerdalLaerdal
Laerdal is a major manufacturer of medical equipment and medical training products based in Stavanger, Norway. Established in 1940 as a print shop, it soon began manufacturing popular rubber toys under the name Tomte Laerdal. Parallel to this was the manufacture of medical training models and...
, Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
, 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 had been trained in rosemaling by his father, Anders Olsen, an artist whose work was recognized at the Paris Exposition
Paris Exposition
Paris Exposition or Paris Exhibition can refer to*The French Industrial Exposition of 1844-World's fair:* Exposition Universelle , The Paris Exposition of 1855* Exposition Universelle , The Paris Exposition of 1867...
in 1893. Lysne immigrated to Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States and is a neighbor of Madison. It straddles the Yahara River about 20 miles southeast of the capital, Madison. Stoughton is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with his wife in 1907. He specialized in redecorating antique chests and painting large platters. He developed a thriving rosemaling enterprise and taught the art to a select few. His signature piece, the smorgasbord plate, was not an object that typically had been decorated, but Lysne's new form had a pervasive influence.
The Stoughton Historical Museum has an exhibit devoted to Mr. Lysne's work. Many of his decorative chests can be seen at Little Norway
Little Norway, Wisconsin
Little Norway is a tourist attraction and living museum of a Norwegian village located in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. Little Norway consists of a fully restored farm dating to the mid-19th century. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
museum in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
Blue Mounds is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 708. The population was estimated at 766 in 2009. The village is adjacent to the Town of Blue Mounds and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Blue...
.
Other sources
- The Fathers of American Decorative Painting (The Decorative Arts Collection. Gretchen Cagle Publications, Inc.)