Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen
Encyclopedia
Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen (16 September 1912, Argentina – 14 February 1999, Ærøskøbing
) was a Danish
painter who is remembered for his old Nordic landscapes, his church decorations and his woodcut
s.
. He studied art under Olivian Holm Møller (1929), Fritz Syberg
(1929–1932), P. Rostrup Bøyesen (1932–1933) and Oluf Høst
(1932–1933). He also spent short periods at the Norwegian Academy
under Per Krohg
(1933–1934) and at the Danish Academy under Elof Risebye (1942–1943).
, Iceland
and Greenland
, he was confronted while still young with subjects he would maintain throughout his life. He became especially interested in the age-old landscapes of the North, still free of the detrimental effects of civilisation. In his youth, Havsteen-Mikkelsen became acquainted with the Funen Painters
where he also learnt the art of woodcut, a technique he would later use to illustrate books on Nordic literature. At the Academy in Oslo, his studies of stave church
decoration developed his interest in sacred art
.
After travelling widely outside Denmark, Havsteen-Mikkelsen settled first on Tåsinge
and later on Ærø
from where he toured the Danish countryside with Martin A. Hansen, Ole Wivel and Regin Dahl
. From the 1950s, he became a central figure for church decoration in Denmark, completing altarpieces and religious works which often harmonised with existing Renaissance art. His work extended to stained glass
windows which he often created with his son, the architect Alan Havsteen-Mikkelsen or with Mogens Frese. His landscapes from the Faroes and Iceland often depict early Christian communities but they are always free of human figures who are only to be found in his Biblical works. Among his landscapes depicting early Nordic cults are Askestorm, Island (1955) and Beinisvörd, Færøerne (1957). His portraits are often inspired by members of his family with 25 paintings of his wife Pam.
He illustrated many of Martin A. Hansen's books including Orm og Tyr (1952) with 400 of his woodcuts and Rejse paa Island (1954). He also illustrated Herman Melville
's Moby Dick (1955). His illustrations are frequently based on very early Danish sacred art, both heathen and Christian. Another aspect of his illustrative work was postage stamp design. Together with his son Alan, he was the originator of an annual series of four or five stamps depicting different parts of Denmark (1974–1981). He also participated in earlier series (1970–1973) covering ships, architecture and frescos.
Havsteen-Mikkelsen received many awards for his work including the Eckersberg Medal
in 1960 and the Thorvaldsen Medal
in 1995.
on the Sea of Galilee, Christ's Crucifixion
, and Christ's appearance in Emmaus
.
In 1985, Havsteen-Mikkelsen designed the bronze gates to Frederik IX's Mausoleum adjacent to Roskilde Cathedral
.
Søbygaard on the island of Ærø houses an exhibition of the preparatory sketches Havsteen-Mikkelsen made for his stained glass windows while Ærø Museum has a large collection of his portrait sketches, lithographs, illustrations and postage stamp works.
Ærøskøbing
Ærøskøbing is a town in central Denmark, located in Ærø Municipality on the island of Ærø. The suffix -købing means a trade town in the languages that derive from Old Norse....
) was a Danish
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...
painter who is remembered for his old Nordic landscapes, his church decorations and his woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s.
Early life and education
After his parents, Johan Theodor Havsteen and Ella Holm-Jensen, divorced, Havsteen-Mikkelsen was brought up by the polar explorer Ejnar MikkelsenEjnar Mikkelsen
Ejnar Mikkelsen , was a Danish polar explorer and author, born in Jutland. He served in the Georg Carl Amdrup expedition to Christian IX Land, East Greenland , and in the Baldwin-Ziegler expedition to Franz Joseph Land .With Ernest de Koven Leffingwell he organized the Anglo-American polar...
. He studied art under Olivian Holm Møller (1929), Fritz Syberg
Fritz Syberg
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Syberg, generally known as Fritz Syberg, was a Danish painter and illustrator, one of the reactionary Fynboerne or "Funen Painters" group living and working on the island of Funen.-Biography:Syberg, from a poor background in Fåborg, first served a house...
(1929–1932), P. Rostrup Bøyesen (1932–1933) and Oluf Høst
Oluf Høst
Oluf Høst was the only member of the Bornholm school of painters who was a real Bornholmer. Although he had studied in Copenhagen, he returned to the Danish island of Bornholm in 1929 where he remained with his family until he died. Bognemark, the little farmhouse near Gudhjem was one of Høst's...
(1932–1933). He also spent short periods at the Norwegian Academy
Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts
The Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts is a Norwegian university offering studies in the areas of specialization painting, photography / video / film, digital art, sound art, sculpture, installation, performance art, and art theory.-History:...
under Per Krohg
Per Krohg
Per Lasson Krohg was a Norwegian artist. Per Krohg is most frequently associated with the mural he created for the United Nations Security Council Chamber, located in the United Nations building in New York City.-Biography:...
(1933–1934) and at the Danish Academy under Elof Risebye (1942–1943).
Artistic career
Havsteen-Mikkelsen's art and interests were deeply rooted in the Nordic countries. Under the influence of Ejnar Mikkelsen and thanks to early voyages to the FaroesFaroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, he was confronted while still young with subjects he would maintain throughout his life. He became especially interested in the age-old landscapes of the North, still free of the detrimental effects of civilisation. In his youth, Havsteen-Mikkelsen became acquainted with the Funen Painters
Funen Painters
The Funen Painters or Fynboerne were a loose group of Danish artists who formed an art colony on the island of Funen at the very beginning of the 20th century. They were strongly influenced by Kristian Zahrtmann who taught at the Artists Studio School in Copenhagen from 1885 to 1908...
where he also learnt the art of woodcut, a technique he would later use to illustrate books on Nordic literature. At the Academy in Oslo, his studies of stave church
Stave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
decoration developed his interest in sacred art
Sacred art
Sacred art is imagery intended to uplift the mind to the spiritual. Sacred art involves the ritual and cultic practices and practical and operative aspects of the path of the spiritual realization within the bosom of the tradition in question....
.
After travelling widely outside Denmark, Havsteen-Mikkelsen settled first on Tåsinge
Tåsinge
Tåsinge is a Danish island south of Funen, at Svendborg. The island covers an area of 70 km² and has 6,111 inhabitants.Tåsinge was once called Thorsinge or Thorsenge, which in the Danish means "Thor's Bed" or "Thor's Meadow"...
and later on Ærø
Ærø
Ærø is one of the Danish Baltic Sea islands, and part of Region of Southern Denmark. The western portion of the island was the municipality of Ærøskøbing; the eastern portion of the island was the municipality of Marstal...
from where he toured the Danish countryside with Martin A. Hansen, Ole Wivel and Regin Dahl
Regin Dahl
Regin Dahl was a Faroese author and music composer.-Biography:Dahl came from a literary family; his father was translator and provost Jákup Dahl. His own poetry has been described as more modernistic than many previous Faroese poets...
. From the 1950s, he became a central figure for church decoration in Denmark, completing altarpieces and religious works which often harmonised with existing Renaissance art. His work extended to stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows which he often created with his son, the architect Alan Havsteen-Mikkelsen or with Mogens Frese. His landscapes from the Faroes and Iceland often depict early Christian communities but they are always free of human figures who are only to be found in his Biblical works. Among his landscapes depicting early Nordic cults are Askestorm, Island (1955) and Beinisvörd, Færøerne (1957). His portraits are often inspired by members of his family with 25 paintings of his wife Pam.
He illustrated many of Martin A. Hansen's books including Orm og Tyr (1952) with 400 of his woodcuts and Rejse paa Island (1954). He also illustrated Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
's Moby Dick (1955). His illustrations are frequently based on very early Danish sacred art, both heathen and Christian. Another aspect of his illustrative work was postage stamp design. Together with his son Alan, he was the originator of an annual series of four or five stamps depicting different parts of Denmark (1974–1981). He also participated in earlier series (1970–1973) covering ships, architecture and frescos.
Havsteen-Mikkelsen received many awards for his work including the Eckersberg Medal
Eckersberg Medal
The Eckersberg Medal is an annual award of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts...
in 1960 and the Thorvaldsen Medal
Thorvaldsen Medal
The Thorvaldsen Medal is awarded annually with few exceptions to a varying number of recipients by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and is its highest destinction within the visual arts...
in 1995.
Church decorations and furnishings
Of particular note is the decorative work Havsteen-Mikkelsen completed in some 60 churches in Denmark, Norway, Greenland and the Faroes comprising altarpieces, paintings, stained glass windows and crucifixes. Favourite subjects include Christ calming the stormCalming the storm
thumb|240px|[[The Storm on the Sea of Galilee]] by [[Rembrandt]], 1632.Calming the storm is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels, namely in Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25 and Matthew 8:23-27....
on the Sea of Galilee, Christ's Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
, and Christ's appearance in Emmaus
Road to Emmaus appearance
The Road to Emmaus appearance refers to one of the early resurrection appearances of Jesus after his crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb...
.
In 1985, Havsteen-Mikkelsen designed the bronze gates to Frederik IX's Mausoleum adjacent to Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
.
Permanent exhibitions
A permanent exhibition of Havsteen-Mikkelsen's work can be seen at Schæffergården in Jægersborg to the north of Copenhagen.Søbygaard on the island of Ærø houses an exhibition of the preparatory sketches Havsteen-Mikkelsen made for his stained glass windows while Ærø Museum has a large collection of his portrait sketches, lithographs, illustrations and postage stamp works.