Heinrich Hansen

Heinrich Hansen is undoubtedly the greatest painter of architectural views in Denmark. He enrolled at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen in 1842. The same year he assisted with the decorations at Thorvaldsen Museum. In 1847, together with Wilhelm Marstrand, he helped create decorations for the burial chapel of King Christian IV at Roskilde. Between 1847-1850, he studied in Germany. It was there he decided to become an architectural painter; the first in Denmark. In 1848, he held his first exhibition (primarily watercolors), then had an exhibit of oil paintings in 1849. It was well-received and his travel support was extended so he was able to visit most of Western Europe, including Italy. One of the paintings that resulted from this trip, View of the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon, was purchased for the Danish Royal Collection. Upon returning to Denmark, he was a teaching assistant for perspective and ornamentation at the Royal Academy for many years. In 1864 he was promoted professor of perspective, a position he held for the rest of his life, serving several terms as the Academy's Vice-President. Over the years, he worked on restoration projects at Rosenborg, Kronborg and Fredriksborg castles, the last of which suffered a major fire in 1859. He also designed furniture, silverware and porcelain, coordinating design at Bing & Grøndahl´s porcelain factory for a period of 22 years. He became a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1859 and a State Councillor in 1871. In 1877, together with his wife, he created the "State Councilor H. Hansen and Wife Silver Anniversary Scholarship".

A view of the interior of the cathedral at Aarhus by Christian Købke (1810-1848) from 1830, 48.5 x 34 cm., is in Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen.