KNUD LARSEN
Danish 1865-1922

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Knud Larsen (Danish 1865-1922) 'Tending Sheep Near Hjortdal Kirke'
Knud Larsen (Danish 1865-1922) 'Tending Sheep Near Hjortdal Kirke'

Knud Larsen (Danish 1865-1922)

Tending Sheep Near Hjortdal Kirke
oil on canvas, signed lower right "Knud Larsen", signed and numbered on stretcher "No. 7 Knud Larsen", possibly exhibited Danish Royal Academy 1903 273 "En Vogterdreng" ("A Guardianboy")
Size: 31 h x 22 w in (29 × 36 ½ x 2 ½ in)
J21294  

Knud Erik Larsen was born in Vinderod, in Denmark in 1865. He began his career as a journeyman painter before attending the Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen in 1883, graduating in 1889. He began exhibiting with a portrait at the Royal Academy’s Spring exhibition in 1887, however his early works focused mainly on landscapes of the Jutland countryside in a similar style to Hans Smidth (1839-1917) and Vilhelm Kyhn (1819-1903). As he developed, his style evolved to be more Impressionistic showing the influence of Danish artists such as Peder Severin Kroyer (1851-1909), Theodor Philipsen (1840-1920) and Laurits Andersen Ring (1854-1933).

Larsen traveled extensively, visiting England, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy. He also exhibited widely abroad, as well as locally at Charlottenburg throughout his career. His works were shown at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin from 1910 to1911, the 1911 International Exhibition in Rome and in the National Gallery, London in 1923. His work was highly lauded, and he received the Thorvaldsen Medal, the Danish Royal Academy’s highest honour, in 1892. Additionally he received the Eckersberg Medal in 1898 and the Serdin Hansen Prize in 1901.

In 1893, Knud Larsen married Frederikke Elisabeth Dall (1870-1963). As his career progressed he began to paint more portraiture, becoming one of the most celebrated portraitists of his day. He was commissioned to paint famous Danish politicians, actors and nobility and many of these remain in public institutions. Larsen’s production also spanned many mediums and besides painting he was responsible for stained glass designs, book illustrations and covers, silver designs and altarpieces.

Knud Larsen was highly respected in the arts community. A member of the Danish Royal Academy General Assembly beginning in 1893, he served on the committee for the Charlottenborg Palace Exhibition in 1905/06 and again between 1914 to 1922. He was on the General Art School Council from 1911 to 1914, and the Royal Art Academy Council from 1908 until his death in Copenhagen in 1922. His work can be found in the Carlsberg Foundation, the National Museum, and institutions in Århus, Odense, Randers, Ribe, Ålborg and Maribo.