Background

Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard was born on September 11, 1743 in Copenhagen. He was the son of Soren Abildgaard, an antiquarian draughtsman of repute and Anne Margrethe Bastholm.

Education

Abildgaard had studied at the Academy from 1764 to 1767, then worked there as an apprentice, and moved to Rome in 1772–1777, where he studied sculpture, architecture, decoration, frescoes (at Palazzo Farnese) and murals.

Career

He worked as an academic painter of the neoclassical school. From 1777 to 1794, he was very productive as an artist in addition to his role at the school. He taught painting, mythology, and anatomy at the school. He produced not only monumental works, but also smaller pieces such as vignettes and illustrations. He designed Old Norse costumes. He illustrated the works of Socrates and Ossian. Additionally he did some sculpting, etching, and authoring. He was interested in all manners of mythological, biblical, and literary allusion.

He taught some famous painters, including Asmus Jacob Carstens, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, and painters J. L. Lund and Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg; later both of them took over his position as professor at the Academy after his death. Eckersberg, referred to as the "Father of Danish painting, " went on to lay the foundation for the period of art known as the Golden Age of Danish Painting, as professor at the same Academy.

Around 1780 as royal historical painter, Abildgaard was requested by the Danish government to paint large monumental pieces, a history of Denmark, to decorate the entirety of the Knights' Room at Christiansborg Palace. It was a prestigious and lucrative assignment. The paintings combined not only historical depictions, but also allegorical and mythological elements that glorified and flattered the government. The door pieces depicted, in allegory, four historical periods in Europe's history. Abilgaard used pictorial allegory like ideograms, to communicate ideas and transmit messages through symbols to a refined public who was initiated into this form of symbology. Abildgaard's professor Johan Edvard Mandelberg supplied the decorations to the room.

He made a failed attempt to be elected to the post of Academy Director in 1787 and was unanimously elected to the post two years later, serving as director during the period 1789–1791. He had the reputation for being a tyrant and for taking as many of the academy's monumental assignments as possible for himself.

His showdowns with the establishment culminated in 1794, when his allegorical painting "Jupiter Weighs the Fate of Mankind" (Jupiter vejer menneskenes skæbne) was exhibited at the Salon. He was politically isolated and cut out of the public debate by censors.

The fire at Christiansborg Palace, in February 1794, also had a dampening effect on his career, for seven of the ten monumental paintings of the grandiose project were destroyed in that accident. The project was stopped and so were his earnings.

However, after that devastating fire accident, he started getting decorative assignments and also got the opportunity to practice as an architect. He decorated the Levetzau Palace (now known as Christian VIII's Palace) at Amalienborg (1794–1798), recently occupied home of King Christian VII of Denmark's half-brother Frederik. His protégé Bertel Thorvaldsen headed the sculptural efforts.

He also planned for rebuilding the Christiansborg Palace, but he could not get the assignment.

He was once again selected to serve as the Academy's director from 1801 until his death in 1809, at Frederiksdal.

Achievements

• Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard was honored with the designation of Professor of Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
  
  After joining the academy he was honored with the designation of Professor in 1778.

Works

More photos

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  • Drawing "Jupiter, disguised as an eagle, with Ganymede, and a sketch of two peacocks" | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Print Reproduction

    ( Jupiter, disguised as an eagle, with Ganymede, and a sk...)

  • Drawing Two Studies of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) Hiding in a Bush | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Print Reproduction

    ( Two Studies of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) Hiding in a Bu...)

  • historic pictoric Drawing Study of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) Trying to Hide Himself | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Print Reproduction

    ( Study of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) Trying to Hide Himse...)

  • Drawing Nemesis and Themis | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Print Reproduction

    ( Nemesis and Themis | Danish, Copenhangen 1743-1809 Fred...)

  • historic pictoric Drawing The Centaur Nessus Abducting Deianira | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 1763–1809 | Antique Fine Art Reproduction

    ( The Centaur Nessus Abducting Deianira | Danish, Copenha...)

  • historic pictoric Drawing Study of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) in Despair | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Print Reproduction

    ( Study of a Male Nude (Althaemenes) in Despair | Danish,...)

  • Drawing An Old Woman Burning Papers | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Fine Art Reproduction

    ( An Old Woman Burning Papers | Danish, Copenhangen 1743-...)

  • Drawing Two Nude Men Playing with Dice | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: 19th century | Antique Vintage Fine Art Poster Print Reproduction

    ( Two Nude Men Playing with Dice | Danish, Copenhangen 17...)

  • Drawing Venus with a Dove | Artist: Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard| Created: Circa 1780 | Antique Vintage Fine Art Poster Print Reproduction

    ( Venus with a Dove | Danish, Copenhangen 1743-1809 Frede...)

Religion

Abilgaard was also known as a religious freethinker.

Politics

Abilgaard was also known asan advocate of political reform.

In spite of his service to the government, he was hardly a great supporter of the monarchy or of the state church. He supported the emancipation of the farmers and participated in the collection of monies for the Freedom Monument in 1792. He contributed a design for the monument, as well as for two of the reliefs at its base. He got caught into controversies at the end of the 18th century because of his controversial statements and satirical drawings. He was inspired by the French Revolution, and in 1789–1790 he tried to incorporate these revolutionary ideals into the Knights' Room at Christiansborg Palace. However, the King rejected his designs.

Connections

Abildgaard married Anna Maria Oxholm on March 23, 1781.

He married for the second time in 1803 to Juliane Marie Ottesen, which was a very happy situation for the aging Abilgaard. He had two sons and a daughter from the marriage. He bought a lovely little place in the country for the family, Spurveskjul (Sparrow Hideaway).

Father:

Søren Pedersen Abildgaard

(18 February 1718 – 2 July 1791)

Mother:

Anne Margrethe Bastholm

Spouse:

Juliane Marie Ottesen

Spouse:

Anna Maria Oxholm

References

• Nicolai Abildgaard
• Between Formula and Freestyle: Nicolai Abildgaard and 18th Century Painting Technique (Cats Series of Technical Studies)
• Nicolai Abildgaard: Der Lehrer von Friedrich und Runge