Background
Trained by his father as a windmill builder, he studied art at Zahrtmann"s Artists Studio School (1885–1890).
Trained by his father as a windmill builder, he studied art at Zahrtmann"s Artists Studio School (1885–1890).
He painted landscapes and religious works, many of which became popular as reproductions. He travelled to Italy on several occasions and stayed with Zahrtmann in Civita d"Antino. Christiansen met considerable opposition and it was only with Zahrtmann"s support that he was able to exhibit at Den Frie Udstilling in 1895.
With his dedicated concern for detail and a feel for dramatic effect, Christiansen created monumental works with strong bright colours.
His Dante pictures, inspired by Giotto and Bernardino Luini, reveal his Expressionistic use of colour, perhaps also influenced by his appreciation of paintings by Gauguin and Van Gogh which were exhibited in Copenhagen in 1893. His large classical paintings of Danish landscapes are comparable to those of Philisophy C. Skovgaard.
Among his most notable paintings are and Knud den Store ved Havet (1908).