After a preparatory period at the Copenhagen Technical School, he studied painting at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1890 to 1892, after which he spent a further five years at Kristian Zahrtmann"s school, Kunstnernes Frie Studieskoler.
He is remembered principally for the classical pottery designs he contributed to the Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik and to Kählers Keramiske Værksted (Kähler"s Ceramics Factory) in Næstved. Born in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, he was the younger brother of the painter Vilhelm Hammershøi who was a strong source of influence and inspiration. From the age of 14, Hammershøi had been interested in ceramics.
In 1888, he began to decorate porcelain at Kjøbenhavns Lervarefabrik in Valby where from 1890 to 1905 he worked together with Thorvald Bindesbøll.
He also spent two lengthy periods with Herman A. Kähler in Næstved, in addition to assignments at the Kongelige Porcelainsfabrik and Bing & Grøndahl. When Bindesbøll died in 1908, Hammershøi lost interest in ceramics and turned back to painting, concentrating on landscapes, initially sketches and watercolours, later oils.
On a study grant, he moved to England in 1910 where he spent the next four years creating architectural paintings of Oxford and Wells. He returned to Denmark during the First World War painting Kronborg, Gåsetårnet in Vordingborg and scenes of Copenhagen"s old town.
Recently, however, international interest has grown in his scenes of nature and architecture, generally painted in the open air.
His paintings often carry a sombre golden tone, creating a rather mystical impression of trees and buildings. In 2008, Øregaard Museum in Hellerup (in conjunction with Næstved Museum and Skovgaard Museum) presented an extensive exhibition of Svend Hammershøi"s work. Consisting of over a hundred artefacts, it included drawings, paintings, ceramics and silverware.
Hammershøi also published a biography: Thorvald Bindesbøll in Memoriam, 1846-1946.
