Rolf Thommessen
Encyclopedia
Rolf Thommessen was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and politician. He edited the newspaper Tidens Tegn
from 1917 to 1938. He was a member of the Parliament of Norway from 1928 to 1930, representing the Liberal Left Party .
as the son of newspaper editor Ola Thommessen
(1851–1942) and his wife Helga Mathæa Clausen (1854–1931). He was a first cousin of Øystein Thommessen
and a granduncle of musician Olav Anton Thommessen
. He was married to Anne Dobloug, daughter of Mikkel Dobloug
, between 1900 and 1938. He lived in Sandvika
and Evje
most of his life, and in Risør
for a period before his death. He died in Oslo in 1939.
his secondary education in 1897. He then studied art history
in Kristiania
, under Lorentz Dietrichson
, and at the British Museum
and in Paris
and Berlin
. He worked as an art critic for the newspaper edited by his father, Verdens Gang
, from 1901 to 1910. He received the dr.philos. degree from the University of Kristiania
in 1908, with the thesis Kunstneren i den græske kunst, about Greek art
. He issued several books on art history, and worked as an assistant at the Museum of History from 1908 to 1910 and as a research fellow
at the university from 1909 to 1910.
in 1910, Thommessen joined as editorial secretary, as co-editor from 1915, and took over as editor-in-chief from 1917. He edited the newspaper until 1938, and was also chairman of the board. Tidens Tegn was one of the largest newspapers in Norway in the 1920s, with many influential contributors. Due to the political developments, however, Tidens Tegn lost its popularity during the 1930s. In 1938 Thommessen was forced to resign as editor, and sell his shares.
's polar expeditions. He was also a board member of the National Gallery of Norway
from 1904 to 1908, and of the Norwegian Press Association
from 1910 to 1918.
He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1927, representing the constituency Akershus
and the Liberal Left Party. He was vice mayor of Bærum
from 1929 to 1931. From 1933 he chaired his party, but the Liberal Left Party soon faded away.
He was decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. A road in Evje in Bærum was named after him in 1949.
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
from 1917 to 1938. He was a member of the Parliament of Norway from 1928 to 1930, representing the Liberal Left Party .
Personal life
Rolf Thommessen was born in KristianiaOslo
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 the son of newspaper editor Ola Thommessen
Ola Thommessen
Ola Thommessen was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He was the long-time editor of Verdens Gang and Tidens Tegn.-Early and personal life:...
(1851–1942) and his wife Helga Mathæa Clausen (1854–1931). He was a first cousin of Øystein Thommessen
Øystein Thommessen
Øystein Thommessen was a Norwegian lawyer.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Jakob Peter Thommessen and Maja Johannessen. He was a nephew of Ola Thommessen and a first cousin of Rolf Thommessen...
and a granduncle of musician Olav Anton Thommessen
Olav Anton Thommessen
Olav Anton Thommessen is a Norwegian composer. He trained in the United States earning degrees from Westminster Choir College and Indiana University. He is currently professor of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he has taught since 1972. He won the Nordic Council Music Prize in...
. He was married to Anne Dobloug, daughter of Mikkel Dobloug
Mikkel Dobloug (born 1844)
Mikkel Dobloug was a Norwegian wholesaler and politician.He was born at Vang, as the son of farmer Mikkel Dobloug and Anne Ry. In 1970 he founded the company Brødrene Dobloug in Christiania, along with his brother. He was a local politician for the Liberal Party...
, between 1900 and 1938. He lived in Sandvika
Sandvika
is the administrative centre of the municipality of Bærum in Norway. It was declared a city by the municipal council in Bærum on 4 June 2003.Sandvika is situated approximately west of Oslo. It is the main transportation hub for Western Bærum, and has a combined bus and railway station. Sandvika is...
and Evje
Evje, Akershus
Evje is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 4,010....
most of his life, and in Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
for a period before his death. He died in Oslo in 1939.
Art historian
Thommessen finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1897. He then studied art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
in Kristiania
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...
, under Lorentz Dietrichson
Lorentz Dietrichson
Lorentz Henrik Segelcke Dietrichson was a Norwegian poet and historian of art and literature.-Biography:Lorentz Henrik Segelcke Dietrichson was the son of Fredrik Dietrichson and Marie Heiberg Dahl . Dietrichson grew up in Bergen as an only child in a home of cultural officials interested in...
, and at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and 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...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He worked as an art critic for the newspaper edited by his father, Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang (1868-1923 newspaper)
Verdens Gang is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1868 to 1923.It was established as a weekly magazine in 1868, later expanded to three issues a week, and was issued daily from 1885. It was the most widespread political newspaper in Norway for many years, and had considerable...
, from 1901 to 1910. He received the dr.philos. degree from the University of Kristiania
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...
in 1908, with the thesis Kunstneren i den græske kunst, about Greek art
Greek art
Greek art began in the Cycladic and Minoan prehistorical civilization, and gave birth to Western classical art in the ancient period...
. He issued several books on art history, and worked as an assistant at the Museum of History from 1908 to 1910 and as a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
at the university from 1909 to 1910.
Newspaper editor
When Thommessen's father founded the newspaper Tidens TegnTidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
in 1910, Thommessen joined as editorial secretary, as co-editor from 1915, and took over as editor-in-chief from 1917. He edited the newspaper until 1938, and was also chairman of the board. Tidens Tegn was one of the largest newspapers in Norway in the 1920s, with many influential contributors. Due to the political developments, however, Tidens Tegn lost its popularity during the 1930s. In 1938 Thommessen was forced to resign as editor, and sell his shares.
Politics and organisations
Thommessen chaired Norsk Luftseiladsforening from 1925 to 1926, and was an important supporter of Roald AmundsenRoald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
's polar expeditions. He was also a board member of the National Gallery of Norway
National Gallery of Norway
The National Gallery of Norway is a gallery in Oslo, Norway. Since 2003 it is administratively a part of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design.-History:...
from 1904 to 1908, and of the Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
from 1910 to 1918.
He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1927, representing the constituency Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
and the Liberal Left Party. He was vice mayor of 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....
from 1929 to 1931. From 1933 he chaired his party, but the Liberal Left Party soon faded away.
He was decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. A road in Evje in Bærum was named after him in 1949.