Emanuel Vigeland
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Vigeland was a multitalented Norwegian
artist. He is most known for a variety of decorations of Scandinavian churches and for Tomba Emmanuelle, his mausoleum at Slemdal
in Oslo
.
in Mandal, Vest-Agder
county. Vigeland was born to a family of craftsmen. His parents were Elesæus Thorsen (1835-1886), a cabinetmaker and Anne Aanensdatter (1835-1907). His younger brother was sculptor, Gustav Vigeland
. In autumn 1894, he was went to Oslo
as a student at the Norwegian National Academy
. In the spring of 1897 he debuted at the National art exhibition. Vigeland went to Copenhagen
in the autumn of 1898 and was a student of Peder Severin Krøyer
at Den Frie Studieskole. From October 1899 to February 1902, Vigeland stayed abroad, first as a student in Paris
, then in Italy
, in Spain
and the UK.
in Oslo
during February 1902. In 1905, Vigeland traveled to Italy
under a scholarship to study frescoes, a journey that also took him to Egypt
and Jerusalem. In 1909, Vigeland was commissioned to decorate frescoes, stained glass and lighting equipment for the first Norwegian Crematorium (Det gamle kapell). The same year he was invited to participate in the competition for the decoration of fresco paintings and stained glass in the new assembly hall at the University of Oslo
.
Mostly known for his painting
s, Vigeland also produced fresco
s, stained glass
and sculpture
s. Noteworthy sculptures include The Virgin and the Unicorn, installed in Nygårdsparken
in Bergen
. Many of his designs are inspired by Christianity, and he decorated the interior of a number of churches principally in Norway. Noteworthy were the design of the interiors, from the pulpit and altar to light fixtures and other decor, in Bryn Church (Bryn kirke) in Bærum
, (1911-14) and the mosaics and stained glass at Gjerpen Church (Gjerpen kirke) at Skien
(1919-21). Other notable example would include the chandeliers and wall lamps in the choir and the ship in the Stavanger Cathedral
(Stavanger domkirke), the stained glass in the Århus Cathedral (Århus Domkirke), the stained glass in Lund Cathedral
(Lunds domkyrka) and stained glass of Fredrikstad Cathedral (Fredrikstad domkirke) in the Diocese of Borg
.
From 1919-22, he ran a school for stained glass art at his studio at Slemdal
. In the 1920s he was at the height of his fame, having conducted a series of successful missions abroad. Vigeland was acquainted with Swedish archbishop Nathan Söderblom
and through this connection he was introduced to the Swedish People's Church Movement (Frikyrkorörelse). Particularly extensive and prestigious was his work with glass paintings at King Oscar's Church (Oscarskyrkan) in Stockholm
.
(Tomba Emmanuelle) his magnum opus
. His mausoleum, which doubles as a museum, is located in Oslo
. It is shaped like a small windowless church, which has overwhelming acoustics
that make speaking out loud almost impossible. The inside walls and roof are covered in a giant fresco, Vita, depicting human life, love and death. Several sculptures of women giving birth adorn the floor. The entry to the mausoleum is very low and the urn
containing the ashes of the artist is in a niche
above the entry, thus forcing all visitors to bow to him when exiting. It is rumoured that Emanuel was annoyed by always being in the shadow of his better known brother Gustav Vigeland
and that this geste of morbid humour was his posthumous revenge.
In 1958, the mausoleum was opened to the public. It is run by the private foundation Emanuel Vigeland Museum. The amazing acoustics of the mausoleum can be heard in a recording by American folk artist Jay Brannan
, who was allowed a private visit during which he was videotaped singing his composition, Death Waltz.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
artist. He is most known for a variety of decorations of Scandinavian churches and for Tomba Emmanuelle, his mausoleum at Slemdal
Slemdal
Slemdal is a neighborhood in the borough of Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway.The neighborhood lies south of Vettakollen, and was built up from the 1890s. It is served by the Oslo Metro station Slemdal. The local sports team is IL Heming.-References:...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
Background
August Emanuel Vigeland was born in Halse og HarkmarkHalse og Harkmark
Halse og Harkmark is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Mandal. When it was a municipality, it encompassed the rural areas that surrounded the city of Mandal, including many islands such as Hille, Skjernøy, and Pysen .-Name:Halse...
in Mandal, Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
county. Vigeland was born to a family of craftsmen. His parents were Elesæus Thorsen (1835-1886), a cabinetmaker and Anne Aanensdatter (1835-1907). His younger brother was sculptor, Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian sculptor. Gustav Vigeland occupies a special position among Norwegian sculptors, both in the power of his creative imagination and in his productivity. He is most associated with Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo...
. In autumn 1894, he was went to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a student at the Norwegian National Academy
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
. In the spring of 1897 he debuted at the National art exhibition. Vigeland went to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in the autumn of 1898 and was a student of Peder Severin Krøyer
Peder Severin Krøyer
Peder Severin Krøyer , known as P.S. Krøyer, was a Norwegian-Danish painter. He is one of the best known and beloved, and undeniably the most colorful of the Skagen Painters, a community of Danish and Nordic artists who lived, gathered or worked in Skagen, Denmark, especially during the final...
at Den Frie Studieskole. From October 1899 to February 1902, Vigeland stayed abroad, first as a student in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, then in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the UK.
Career
His first solo exhibition was held at the Dioramalokalet on Karl Johan's streetKarl Johans gate
Karl Johans gate is the main street of the city of Oslo, Norway. The street was named in honor of King Karl Johan, who was King of Sweden and of Norway....
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
during February 1902. In 1905, Vigeland traveled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
under a scholarship to study frescoes, a journey that also took him to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Jerusalem. In 1909, Vigeland was commissioned to decorate frescoes, stained glass and lighting equipment for the first Norwegian Crematorium (Det gamle kapell). The same year he was invited to participate in the competition for the decoration of fresco paintings and stained glass in the new assembly hall at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
.
Mostly known for his painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, Vigeland also produced fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
s, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s. Noteworthy sculptures include The Virgin and the Unicorn, installed in Nygårdsparken
Nygårdsparken
Nygårdsparken is a public park located in the city centre of Bergen, Norway, between the neighbourhoods of Nygård and Møhlenpris. Covering 172.896 square meters, Nygårdsparken is the largest urban park in Bergen.-History:...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. Many of his designs are inspired by Christianity, and he decorated the interior of a number of churches principally in Norway. Noteworthy were the design of the interiors, from the pulpit and altar to light fixtures and other decor, in Bryn Church (Bryn kirke) in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
, (1911-14) and the mosaics and stained glass at Gjerpen Church (Gjerpen kirke) at Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
(1919-21). Other notable example would include the chandeliers and wall lamps in the choir and the ship in the Stavanger Cathedral
Stavanger Cathedral
Stavanger Cathedral is Norway's oldest cathedral. It is situated in the middle of Stavanger, and is the seat of the Diocese of Stavanger.-History:...
(Stavanger domkirke), the stained glass in the Århus Cathedral (Århus Domkirke), the stained glass in Lund Cathedral
Lund Cathedral
The Lund Cathedral is the Lutheran cathedral in Lund, Scania, Sweden. It is the seat of the bishop of Lund of the Church of Sweden.- History :...
(Lunds domkyrka) and stained glass of Fredrikstad Cathedral (Fredrikstad domkirke) in the Diocese of Borg
Diocese of Borg
Borg is a diocese in the Church of Norway. The diocese includes parishes in the counties of Østfold and Akershus, excluding Asker and Bærum . It was created in 1969 by separation from the Diocese of Oslo. The cathedral city is Fredrikstad....
.
From 1919-22, he ran a school for stained glass art at his studio at Slemdal
Slemdal
Slemdal is a neighborhood in the borough of Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway.The neighborhood lies south of Vettakollen, and was built up from the 1890s. It is served by the Oslo Metro station Slemdal. The local sports team is IL Heming.-References:...
. In the 1920s he was at the height of his fame, having conducted a series of successful missions abroad. Vigeland was acquainted with Swedish archbishop Nathan Söderblom
Nathan Söderblom
Lars Olof Jonathan Söderblom was a Swedish clergyman, Archbishop of Uppsala in the Church of Sweden, and recipient of the 1930 Nobel Peace Prize...
and through this connection he was introduced to the Swedish People's Church Movement (Frikyrkorörelse). Particularly extensive and prestigious was his work with glass paintings at King Oscar's Church (Oscarskyrkan) in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Tomba Emmanuelle
Vigeland made of his mausoleumMausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
(Tomba Emmanuelle) his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
. His mausoleum, which doubles as a museum, is located in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. It is shaped like a small windowless church, which has overwhelming acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
that make speaking out loud almost impossible. The inside walls and roof are covered in a giant fresco, Vita, depicting human life, love and death. Several sculptures of women giving birth adorn the floor. The entry to the mausoleum is very low and the urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
containing the ashes of the artist is in a niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
above the entry, thus forcing all visitors to bow to him when exiting. It is rumoured that Emanuel was annoyed by always being in the shadow of his better known brother Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian sculptor. Gustav Vigeland occupies a special position among Norwegian sculptors, both in the power of his creative imagination and in his productivity. He is most associated with Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo...
and that this geste of morbid humour was his posthumous revenge.
In 1958, the mausoleum was opened to the public. It is run by the private foundation Emanuel Vigeland Museum. The amazing acoustics of the mausoleum can be heard in a recording by American folk artist Jay Brannan
Jay Brannan
Jay Brannan is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He was born in Texas and briefly studied in Ohio, but moved to California to become an actor. Brannan appeared in the 2006 movie Shortbus, which included one of his songs in its soundtrack, and began to build a fan base by performing on...
, who was allowed a private visit during which he was videotaped singing his composition, Death Waltz.
Personal life
In 1902, Emanuel Vigeland married Valborg Kristine Madsen (1879-1951). Their children were Marie Vigeland (1903-1983), Per Vigeland (1904-1968) and Imm Vigeland who was born in 1917.Other sources
- Falcon, Jean Emmanuel Vigeland (Paris: 1925)
- Tybring, Fredrik Emanuel Vigeland (Oslo: 1935)
- Kortner, Magne Kirkekunstneren Emanuel Vigeland : Borgestad kirke - Gjerpen kirke 1996, ISBN 82-7065-021-8,