Background
Her mother was an artist, and Hilda also studied art, graduating from the Sorbonne Art School in Paris. Her mother remarried an Italian, and Hilda moved to Italy, where she became fluent in Italian (as well as French and English).
Her mother was an artist, and Hilda also studied art, graduating from the Sorbonne Art School in Paris. Her mother remarried an Italian, and Hilda moved to Italy, where she became fluent in Italian (as well as French and English).
In 1960, Madsen got her first Newfoundland (dog), and over time became a leading breeder, founding Hilvig Kennels. In 1977, Time magazine described her as “the grand dame of Newfoundland dog breeders”, and a “revolutionary” in seeking to resolve the conflicting goals of the physical requirements of the show ring and the traditional attributes of a good working dog. Madsen had several one-woman shows, and was best known for portraits and animal studies.