Nicolai Wilhelm Marstrand, painter and illustrator, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Nicolai Jacob Marstrand, instrument maker and inventor, and Petra Othilia Smith.
20 Facts About Wilhelm Marstrand
2.
Wilhelm Marstrand studied at Copenhagen's Metropolitan School, but had little interest in books, and left around 16 years of age.
3.
Wilhelm Marstrand had already shown artistic talent, tackling difficult subjects such as group scenes with many figures and complicated composition.
4.
At 16 years of age Wilhelm Marstrand thus began his studies at the Academy under Eckersberg, attending the school from 1826 to 1833.
5.
Wilhelm Marstrand's painting "A musical evening party", depicts such an occasion at the home of Waagepetersen, and was an important transition painting for Marstrand.
6.
Wilhelm Marstrand returned to Italy several times, the last visit being in 1869, and when in Rome he spent summer months each year in the hill towns Olevano Romano, Civitella and Subiaco.
7.
Wilhelm Marstrand was enchanted with Italy and with the ways of life of the Italian people.
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Wilhelm Marstrand portrayed a colorful, joyous, and romantic view of them, infused with a newfound ideal of beauty.
9.
Wilhelm Marstrand painted a number of portraits during this first stay in Italy.
10.
Wilhelm Marstrand completed sketches for a large portrait of botanist and politician, J F Schouw, which would be later realized as a painting.
11.
Wilhelm Marstrand returned to Denmark at the end of 1841, stopping in Munich and Paris on the way.
12.
Wilhelm Marstrand became a member of the art Academy on 19 June 1843, after submitting the painting "Erasmus Montanus" as his admissions piece.
13.
Wilhelm Marstrand became a professor at the Academy in 1848.
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Wilhelm Marstrand endeavored to let his students evolve according to their own skills and interests.
15.
Wilhelm Marstrand continued to apply inspiration from Italy in his paintings.
16.
Wilhelm Marstrand now supplied it with themes from literature and the theatre, portraying scenes from Don Quixote by Cervantes, as well as from Erasmus Montanus, or other plays by Ludvig Holberg.
17.
Wilhelm Marstrand continued to paint genre paintings, and to make sketches, caricatures, and drawings, capturing the spirit of his time with gentle or more biting satire.
18.
On 8 June 1850, Wilhelm Marstrand married Margrethe Christine Weidemann, with whom he was to have five children.
19.
Wilhelm Marstrand's family became yet a new source for his art.
20.
In October 1871 Wilhelm Marstrand was struck with a brain hemorrhage and partially paralysed, losing much of his work capacity before his death in 1873.