Vilhelm Bissen
Encyclopedia
Christian Gottlieb Vilhelm Bissen (5 August 1836 – 20 April 1913) was a Danish
sculptor, son of Herman Wilhelm Bissen
. He is mainly known for a number of statues around Copenhagen
, including the equestrian statue of Absalon
on Højbro Plads
and the Stork Fountain
on the adjoining Amagertorv
. He was also a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with great influence on the next generation of Danish sculptors and for a while served as its director.
, one of the leading Danish sculptors of his day. Young Bissen received training in his father's studio from an early age and studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1853 to 1857, then in Rome
between 1857 and 1863 and finally in Carrara
from 1866 to 1867 where he studied marble techniques.
Upon his father's death in 1868, he returned to Denmark to continue his workshop and complete his ongoing projects. These included most notably the equestrian statue of King Frederik VII for the plaza in front of Christiansborg Palace
(1873).
His own works included a number of statues of prominent Danes for various locations around Copenhagen, including Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
at the Marble Church
, Christian IV
at Nyboder
and Queen Consort Caroline Amalie in Rosenborg Castle Garden. He was also commissioned to make two statues of Absalon
at the septicentennial
of his death in 1901, an equestrian statue for Højbro Plads
and another statue for the facade of the new Copenhagen Vity Hall which was under construction at the time.
He also produced a large number of animal sculptures of which the birds on the Stork Fountain
on Amagertorv
are the most famous.
from Bertel Thorvaldsen
but after a stay in Paris
around 1880 , he was influenced by Naturalism. With the equestrian statue of Absalon he turned to Neo-romanticism
.
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...
sculptor, son of Herman Wilhelm Bissen
Herman Wilhelm Bissen
Herman Wilhelm Bissen was a Danish sculptor.Bissen first studied painting in Copenhagen, then became a pupil of the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. In 1824, he travelled to Rome and met Christian Daniel Rauch in Berlin. Under the influence of Thorvaldsen, his style changed from romanticism to...
. He is mainly known for a number of statues around Copenhagen
Copenhagen
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...
, including the equestrian statue of Absalon
Absalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
on Højbro Plads
Højbro Plads
Højbro Plads is a rectangular public square located between the adjoining Amagertorv and Slotsholmen Canal in the City Centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
and the Stork Fountain
Stork Fountain
The Stork Fountain is located on Amagertorv in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was a present to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Louise in connection with their silver wedding in 1894...
on the adjoining Amagertorv
Amagertorv
Amagertorv , today part of the Strøget pedestrian zone, is often described as the most central square in central Copenhagen, Denmark...
. He was also a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with great influence on the next generation of Danish sculptors and for a while served as its director.
Biography
Vilhelm Bissen was born in 1830 as the son of Herman Wilhelm BissenHerman Wilhelm Bissen
Herman Wilhelm Bissen was a Danish sculptor.Bissen first studied painting in Copenhagen, then became a pupil of the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. In 1824, he travelled to Rome and met Christian Daniel Rauch in Berlin. Under the influence of Thorvaldsen, his style changed from romanticism to...
, one of the leading Danish sculptors of his day. Young Bissen received training in his father's studio from an early age and studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1853 to 1857, then in Rome
Rome
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...
between 1857 and 1863 and finally in Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
from 1866 to 1867 where he studied marble techniques.
Upon his father's death in 1868, he returned to Denmark to continue his workshop and complete his ongoing projects. These included most notably the equestrian statue of King Frederik VII for the plaza in front of Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
(1873).
His own works included a number of statues of prominent Danes for various locations around Copenhagen, including Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig , most often referred to as simply N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher, and politician. He was one of the most influential people in Danish history, as his philosophy gave rise to a new form of nationalism in...
at the Marble Church
Frederik's Church
Frederick's Church , popularly known as The Marble Church is a church in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of Amalienborg Palace....
, Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
at Nyboder
Nyboder
Nyboder is a historic row house district of former Naval barracks in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was planned and first built by Christian IV to accommodate a need for housing for the personnel of the rapidly growing Royal Danish Navy and their families during that time...
and Queen Consort Caroline Amalie in Rosenborg Castle Garden. He was also commissioned to make two statues of Absalon
Absalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
at the septicentennial
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of his death in 1901, an equestrian statue for Højbro Plads
Højbro Plads
Højbro Plads is a rectangular public square located between the adjoining Amagertorv and Slotsholmen Canal in the City Centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
and another statue for the facade of the new Copenhagen Vity Hall which was under construction at the time.
He also produced a large number of animal sculptures of which the birds on the Stork Fountain
Stork Fountain
The Stork Fountain is located on Amagertorv in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was a present to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Louise in connection with their silver wedding in 1894...
on Amagertorv
Amagertorv
Amagertorv , today part of the Strøget pedestrian zone, is often described as the most central square in central Copenhagen, Denmark...
are the most famous.
Style
Bissen was trained in the Neoclassical traditionNeoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
from 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...
but after a stay in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
around 1880 , he was influenced by Naturalism. With the equestrian statue of Absalon he turned to Neo-romanticism
Neo-romanticism
The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in music, painting and architecture. It has been used with reference to very late 19th century and early 20th century composers such as Gustav Mahler particularly by Carl Dahlhaus who uses it as synonymous with late Romanticism...
.