Erik Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Erik Schmidt painter and writer. His uncle was the optician Bernhard Schmidt
.
Erik Schmidt's father was a captain, which Erik also hoped to become in the future, but he was also a talented amateur painter. Erik went to school in the next-door Swedish school, and after four years continued his studies at the Swedish College at Haapsalu
. At the age of 17 he became a teacher of the primary school where he had himself been a pupil a few years ago. This freed him from the danger of having to "volunteer" for service in either the Estonian Legion
or the German Arbeitsdienst. At the end of October 1943 the danger from a new Russian occupation became possible and Erik Schmidt and his parents decided to leave everything and flee to Sweden where they got a warm welcome from the ship-owning Brodin family. After WWII Erik signed on as an apprentice on the maiden voyage on a Brodin Line cargo- and passenger-liner, said to be the fastest in the world. After a year he had to leave the ship in the next Swedish port in order to fulfil his military service.
During one of these visits to New York City
he met the Armenian painter Ariel Agemian, who had ended his studies at the Academy of Venice
with a Gold Medal, and been dubbed Knight of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Pius XII. Agemian was a very gifted and capable teacher, who brought a complete change into Erik's seafaring life. During his voyages to South American ports, Erik Schmidt tried his hand at drawing and painting, showed the results to Ariel, and was guided and encouraged by him, until he finally decided to give up seafaring and become a painter. After a short stay in Sweden in December 1949 he studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
from 1950 to 1953. After a stay in Johannesburg
, South Africa in 1957, he established himself in Palma de Mallorca
, where he has lived and worked ever since.In 1973 he met Kerstin Lindahl the woman he soon married, a beautiful,, intelligent young woman with a strong sense of loyalty and that changed his life for ever. Kerstin is a lively bright companion independent and well travelled before marrying. Erik discovered that he was accepted and appreciated as he was, and could now concentrate on his painting
Erik Schmidt describes his philosophy of seeing and painting:
Erik Schmidt is a gifted portraitist, he also paints scenes and people from rural areas busy with their everyday toils. Erik Schmidt paints with Rubens' medium, based on the black oil
and mastix solution, which allowed him to use paints with brilliant colours that blended well and had good drying qualities and which he has used ever since. His colours, which until his time in Paris had been the greys and ochres of the coastal scenes of his childhood in Estonia, plus the changing colours of the sky and the sea, are now enriched by more brilliant colours used by his fellow-students from India and from Arabic countries.
Bernhard Schmidt
Bernhard Woldemar Schmidt was a German optician. In 1930 he invented the Schmidt telescope which corrected for the optical errors of spherical aberration, coma, and astigmatism, making possible for the first time the construction of very large, wide-angled reflective cameras of short exposure time...
.
Erik Schmidt's father was a captain, which Erik also hoped to become in the future, but he was also a talented amateur painter. Erik went to school in the next-door Swedish school, and after four years continued his studies at the Swedish College at Haapsalu
Haapsalu
Haapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Lääne County and has a population of 11,618 ....
. At the age of 17 he became a teacher of the primary school where he had himself been a pupil a few years ago. This freed him from the danger of having to "volunteer" for service in either the Estonian Legion
Estonian Legion
The Estonian Legion was a military unit within the Combat Support Forces of the Waffen SS Verfügungstruppe during World War II, mainly consisting of Estonian soldiers.-Creation:...
or the German Arbeitsdienst. At the end of October 1943 the danger from a new Russian occupation became possible and Erik Schmidt and his parents decided to leave everything and flee to Sweden where they got a warm welcome from the ship-owning Brodin family. After WWII Erik signed on as an apprentice on the maiden voyage on a Brodin Line cargo- and passenger-liner, said to be the fastest in the world. After a year he had to leave the ship in the next Swedish port in order to fulfil his military service.
During one of these visits to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
he met the Armenian painter Ariel Agemian, who had ended his studies at the Academy of Venice
Accademia
The Accademia is a museum gallery of pre-19th century art in Venice, northern Italy. Situated on the south bank of the Grand Canal, within the sestiere of Dorsoduro, it gives its name to one of the three bridges across the canal, the Ponte dell'Accademia, and to the boat landing station for the...
with a Gold Medal, and been dubbed Knight of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Pius XII. Agemian was a very gifted and capable teacher, who brought a complete change into Erik's seafaring life. During his voyages to South American ports, Erik Schmidt tried his hand at drawing and painting, showed the results to Ariel, and was guided and encouraged by him, until he finally decided to give up seafaring and become a painter. After a short stay in Sweden in December 1949 he studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
from 1950 to 1953. After a stay in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa in 1957, he established himself in Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, where he has lived and worked ever since.In 1973 he met Kerstin Lindahl the woman he soon married, a beautiful,, intelligent young woman with a strong sense of loyalty and that changed his life for ever. Kerstin is a lively bright companion independent and well travelled before marrying. Erik discovered that he was accepted and appreciated as he was, and could now concentrate on his painting
Erik Schmidt describes his philosophy of seeing and painting:
Erik Schmidt is a gifted portraitist, he also paints scenes and people from rural areas busy with their everyday toils. Erik Schmidt paints with Rubens' medium, based on the black oil
Oil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
and mastix solution, which allowed him to use paints with brilliant colours that blended well and had good drying qualities and which he has used ever since. His colours, which until his time in Paris had been the greys and ochres of the coastal scenes of his childhood in Estonia, plus the changing colours of the sky and the sea, are now enriched by more brilliant colours used by his fellow-students from India and from Arabic countries.
Individual expositions
- Salon de Printemps, Paris 1951.
- Stuttaford Galleries, Johannesburg 1954.
- Ekströms Konstgalleri, Stockholm 1955.
- Ateneo de Santander, Santander 1956.
- Eesti Majandusühisus Produkt, Stockholm 1957.
- Galeria Rembrandt, Palma de Mallorca 1980.
- Eesti Maja, Stockholm 1988.
- Eesti Maja, Stockholm 1989.
- Claustre de Sant Antoniet, Palma de Mallorca 2009.
Works
Erik Schmidt has published many articles. Most are in Swedish but he has also written books in Estonian, English and Spanish.- Tormised Teekonnad. Perona, PärnuPärnuPärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
1993. - Optical Illusions: The Life Story of Bernhard Schmidt, the Great Stellar Optician of the Twentieth Century. Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus, 1995, ISBN 9985501020.
- Naissaare Põlised Perekonnad (Hrsg.). Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus, 1995, ISBN 9985501047.
- Pagana Eestlane. Eesti Raamat, 1996, ISBN 9985650603.
- Tuultest Tõugatud. Eesti Raamat, 1999, ISBN 9985652215.
- Rännakud Enne Koitu. Virgela, 2001, ISBN 9985930010.
- Minu Onu Bernhard Schmidt. Ilmamaa, 2002, ISBN 9985770617.
- Jumalaga, Naissaar!. Olion, TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
2004, ISBN 9985663667. - Päevapilte Hispaaniast. Eesti Raamat, 2004, ISBN 9985654552.
- Bernhard Schmidt 1879–1935. 2004.