Stephan Sinding
Encyclopedia
Stephan Abel Sinding was a Norwegian
-Danish
sculptor
. He moved to Copenhagen
in 1883 and had his breakthrough the same year. In 1890 he obtained Danish citizenship. In 1810 he settled in Paris
where he lived and worked until his death in 1922.
as a son of mining engineer Matthias Wilhelm Sinding
(1811–1860) and Cecilie Marie Mejdell (1817–86). Sinding was the brother of the composer Christian Sinding
and painter Otto Ludvig Sinding and the nephew of Nicolai Mejdell
(1822–1899) and Thorvald Mejdell
(1824–1908), and through the former a first cousin of Glør Thorvald Mejdell
, who married Stephan's sister Thora Cathrine Sinding. Stephan Sinding was also a first cousin of Alfred Sinding-Larsen
and the three siblings Ernst Anton Henrik Sinding
, Elisabeth Sinding (1846–1930) and Gustav Adolf Sinding (1849–1925).
Sinding first embarked on law studies in Christiania
but broke off to instead pursue a career in the arts. He took drawing and modeling classes first at the Royal School of Drawing
in Christiania and then studied privately with sculptor Albert Wolff
in Berlin
. Sinding spent his adult life working in different places mostly Rome
, Copenhagen
, and finally Paris
.
From 1874 to 1875 he studied in Paris
and picked up influences from the latest Realist tendencies in French sculptures, especially from Auguste Rodin
and Paul Dubois. Sinding was met with poor recognition from the Norwegian public since his style was considered too modern.
, which he found a better working place, and had his breakthrough with the sculpture A barbarian woman carries her dead son home from the battle, created during a stay in Rome
that same year. It was acquired by the brewer Carl Jacobsen
, the son and heir of Carlsberg-founder Jacob Christian Jacobsen
, who was a great admirer of both classical and modern sculpture and was building an ever-growing private collection which in the end turned into the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Sinding created a number of sculptures, among others Mother in Captivity which won him the Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle (1889)
, Two figures (1889), and Young woman at her husband's body / The Widow (1892). Many of the Sindings sculptures are credited to realism but together with Danish sculptor Niels Hansen Jacobsen
, among others, are by many considered much more in the style of Symbolism
. An example of his symbolic work is his sculpture Valkyrjen, a bronze cast of which stands in Churchill Park
in Copenhagen.
Sinding became a titular professor and taught private students in Copenhagen.
.
he married actress Anna Elga Augusta Betzonich (1859–1936).
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...
-Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
sculptor
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...
. He moved 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 1883 and had his breakthrough the same year. In 1890 he obtained Danish citizenship. In 1810 he settled 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...
where he lived and worked until his death in 1922.
Early life and education
Stephan Abel Sinding was born in TrondhjemTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as a son of mining engineer Matthias Wilhelm Sinding
Matthias Wilhelm Sinding
Matthias Wilhelm Sinding was a Norwegian mining engineer and factory founder.He was born in Fredrikstad as a son of Ulrik Rosing Sinding and Mette Marie Bang...
(1811–1860) and Cecilie Marie Mejdell (1817–86). Sinding was the brother of the composer Christian Sinding
Christian Sinding
Christian August Sinding was a Norwegian composer.-Personal life:He was born in Kongsberg as a son of mine superindendent Matthias Wilhelm Sinding and Cecilie Marie Mejdell . He was a brother of the painter Otto Sinding and the sculptor Stephan Sinding...
and painter Otto Ludvig Sinding and the nephew of Nicolai Mejdell
Nicolai Mejdell
Christian Henrik Nicolai Mejdell was a Norwegian mining engineer.He was born in Vang, Hedmark. He took his mining examination in 1843. He worked as manager of Selbu Copper Works and Kongsberg Silver Works, and from 1865 he was the mine superindendent for all of South-Eastern Norway...
(1822–1899) and Thorvald Mejdell
Thorvald Mejdell
Thorvald Mejdell was a Norwegian forester.He was born in Ringsaker as a son of colonel Gløer Gløersen Mejdell and Thorine Krog. He was a nephew of officer Jacob Gerhard Meydell and brother of mining engineer Nicolai Mejdell, and an uncle of jurist and writer Glør Thorvald Mejdell...
(1824–1908), and through the former a first cousin of Glør Thorvald Mejdell
Glør Thorvald Mejdell
Glør Thorvald Mejdell was a Norwegian barrister, judge and political writer.He was born in Kongsberg as a son of mining engineer Nicolai Mejdell , nephew of forester Thorvald Mejdell and grandnephew of officer Jacob Gerhard Meydell. He finished his secondary education in 1868, took the cand.jur...
, who married Stephan's sister Thora Cathrine Sinding. Stephan Sinding was also a first cousin of Alfred Sinding-Larsen
Alfred Sinding-Larsen
Nils Ulrik Alfred Sinding-Larsen was a Norwegian civil servant, teacher at the Military Academy, journalist and writer.-Personal life:...
and the three siblings Ernst Anton Henrik Sinding
Ernst Anton Henrik Sinding
Ernst Anton Henrik Sinding was a Norwegian school director.-Personal life:He was born in Larvik as a son of vicar Otto Ludvig Sinding and Dorothea Magdalene Lammers...
, Elisabeth Sinding (1846–1930) and Gustav Adolf Sinding (1849–1925).
Sinding first embarked on law studies in Christiania
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...
but broke off to instead pursue a career in the arts. He took drawing and modeling classes first at the Royal School of Drawing
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 Christiania and then studied privately with sculptor Albert Wolff
Albert Wolff
Albert Wolff was a French conductor and composer of Dutch descent. Most of his career was spent in European venues, with the exception of two years that he spent as a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and a few years in Buenos Aires during the Second World War...
in 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...
. Sinding spent his adult life working in different places mostly Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 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...
, and finally 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...
.
From 1874 to 1875 he studied 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 picked up influences from the latest Realist tendencies in French sculptures, especially from Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
and Paul Dubois. Sinding was met with poor recognition from the Norwegian public since his style was considered too modern.
Career in Denmark
In 1883 he moved to CopenhagenCopenhagen
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...
, which he found a better working place, and had his breakthrough with the sculpture A barbarian woman carries her dead son home from the battle, created during a stay in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
that same year. It was acquired by the brewer Carl Jacobsen
Carl Jacobsen
Carl Christian Hillman Jacobsen was a Danish brewer, art collector and philanthropist, the son of J. C. Jacobsen, who founded the brewery Carlsberg and named it after him.-Career:...
, the son and heir of Carlsberg-founder Jacob Christian Jacobsen
Jacob Christian Jacobsen
Jacob Christian Jacobsen , mostly known as J. C. Jacobsen, was a Danish industrialist and philanthropist best known for founding the brewery Carlsberg....
, who was a great admirer of both classical and modern sculpture and was building an ever-growing private collection which in the end turned into the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark...
Sinding created a number of sculptures, among others Mother in Captivity which won him the Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle (1889)
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
, Two figures (1889), and Young woman at her husband's body / The Widow (1892). Many of the Sindings sculptures are credited to realism but together with Danish sculptor Niels Hansen Jacobsen
Niels Hansen Jacobsen
Niels Hansen Jacobsen was a Danish sculptor and ceramist who is famous for making the, at the time of creation, controversial sculpture, Troll, who smells christianblood-References:...
, among others, are by many considered much more in the style of Symbolism
Symbolism (arts)
Symbolism was a late nineteenth-century art movement of French, Russian and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts. In literature, the style had its beginnings with the publication Les Fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire...
. An example of his symbolic work is his sculpture Valkyrjen, a bronze cast of which stands in Churchill Park
Churchillparken
Churchillparken is a public park in Copenhagen, Denmark, occupying a tract of land between Kastellet, a 17th century fortress, and the street Esplanaden...
in Copenhagen.
Sinding became a titular professor and taught private students in Copenhagen.
Late years in Paris
In 1910 Sinding moved to Paris, where he worked until his death. Assisted by Franz von Jessen, Sinding wrote an autobiography entitled En Billedhuggers Liv (1921). He died in January 1922 in Paris, and was buried at the Père Lachaise CemeteryPère Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
.
Private life
In May 1885 in FrederiksbergFrederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
he married actress Anna Elga Augusta Betzonich (1859–1936).
Selected works
- Vølund smed, 1873
- Hylas, ca. 1880
- Slaven, 1878,
- Frise, 1891
- Enken, 1892
- Henrik Ibsen, 1899
- Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 1899
- Moder Jord, 1900
- Ole Bull, 1901
- Valkyrjen, 1910
- Angelus, 1913
- L'Offrande, 1918
Other sources
- Grappe, Georges Stephan Sinding (Paris: Librairie Artistique Internationale. 1920)
- Rapsilber, M. Stephen Sinding (Marquardt & Co. 1910)