Michael Ancher
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Portrait of Niels Gaihede (1816-1890)
Signed M.A. and dated Skagen 2/2-80. Pencil on paper mounted to board, 16 x 11.5 cm.
Provenance
Presented by the artist to the artist Carl Reinholt Callmander (1840-1922), known as the father of Swedish glass.
Private collection Gothenburg until 2011.
More information
The fisherman Niels Gaihede was used as a model by many of the Skagen painters, especially the Norwegian painter Christian Krogh. Krogh stayed with the family and used all familymembers as models. Carl Reinholt Callmander visited Skagen in July 1909 and maybe also before or after. He is recorded in the guest book of Brøndum´s Hotel where most artists stayed (information kindly provided by Curator Mette Bøgh Jensen, Skagens Museum).
The year 1880 was an important year in Michael Ancher's life. He then married Anna Brøndrum, daughter of the owner of Brøndums Hotel, the legendary meetingplace for the Skagen painters, and settled permanently in Skagen. 1880 was also his breakthrough as an artist. The same year one of his pictures was ourchased by King Christian IX.
Carl Reinholt Callmander was one of the founders of Valand Artschool (Valands konsthögskola) and the art and litterature society Gnistan (Konst och litteratursällskapaet Gnistan), both in Gothenburg. He was a pioneer in glasspainting and is known as the father of Swedish glass painting.