Scandinavian artists were quietly influential in 19th-century Europe, but their accomplishments are often neglected in American academic curricula. These books go a long way toward clarifying significant developments in Danish painting, and they also impart a richer understanding of Danish culture. The painters examined here together span a century of national growth and innovation. Hammershi (1864-1916) inherited the fruits of Denmark's Golden Age that Kbke (1810-48) experienced first-hand. Though Kbke's works have rarely been seen outside Denmark, many Danes consider him to be their greatest artist. His paintings, which utilize a rich but muted palette, convey a sense of intimacy that strikes the viewer as quintessentially Scandinavian. Kbke's luminous style was greatly admired as being in the spirit of Biedermeier. But in his lyrical work, Schwartz is quick to point out that the artistic dimensions are much more complex. This same attention to nuance is apparent in Vad's study of Hammershi. Every aspect of the painter's life is examined, including his training, techniques, friendships, and inspirations and his relationship with the influential patron, Alfred Bramsen. The wealth of information provided is impressive; indeed, many better-known artists still have not received such scholarly treatment. -- Library Journal -- amazon.com
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