Vigeland Museum
Encyclopedia
The Vigeland Museum is a museum in Oslo
, Norway
.
Its history began in 1919 when noted sculptor Gustav Vigeland
made an offer to Oslo Municipality
to donate his works sometime in the future. Vigeland's total body of works consisted not only of sculptures, but also woodcut
s, drawings, sketches and photographs as well as letters, other writings and a personal library. In return, Vigeland wanted an atelier
. The atelier could be rebuilt as a museum after his death. Even Vigeland's flat on the third floor was preserved as a part of the museum.
The building of the would-be museum commenced in 1921, as soon as a contract between Vigeland and Oslo had been formalized. The architects were Lorentz Harboe Ree
and Carl Buch, and the style was neo-classic. In 1923 Vigeland moved in, one year before the middle part and northern wing were completed. The southern wing was completed in 1930. The atelier was used by both Vigeland and other artists.
Vigeland died in 1943, during the hard economic times of World War II
. The building was opened as a public museum in 1947, partially thanks to budget surplus from the municipal cinema company Oslo Kinematografer
. The museum is still owned by Oslo municipality via its etat
of culture, and the current museum director is Jarle Strømodden.
Immediately north of the museum is the more famous Vigeland Sculpture Park—which showcases Vigeland's larger statues and sculptures—and the Frogner Park
. The highway Ring 2
runs nearby, and buses as well as Oslo Tramway provide for public transportation. The museum is within reasonable walking distance of the stations Frogner plass on the Frogner Line
, and, further away, Nobels gate
on the Skøyen Line
(the now-closed station Halvdan Svartes gate was proximate as well).
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...
, Norway
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...
.
Its history began in 1919 when noted 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...
made an offer to Oslo Municipality
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...
to donate his works sometime in the future. Vigeland's total body of works consisted not only of sculptures, but also woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s, drawings, sketches and photographs as well as letters, other writings and a personal library. In return, Vigeland wanted an atelier
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
. The atelier could be rebuilt as a museum after his death. Even Vigeland's flat on the third floor was preserved as a part of the museum.
The building of the would-be museum commenced in 1921, as soon as a contract between Vigeland and Oslo had been formalized. The architects were Lorentz Harboe Ree
Lorentz Harboe Ree
Lorentz Harboe Ree was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Stange, and graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1915. Early on he worked with Harald Aars on several projects....
and Carl Buch, and the style was neo-classic. In 1923 Vigeland moved in, one year before the middle part and northern wing were completed. The southern wing was completed in 1930. The atelier was used by both Vigeland and other artists.
Vigeland died in 1943, during the hard economic times of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The building was opened as a public museum in 1947, partially thanks to budget surplus from the municipal cinema company Oslo Kinematografer
Oslo Kino
-History:Its creation was agreed to by the city authorities of Oslo in 1925, and the company was inaugurated on 1 January 1926 as Oslo Kinematografer. It was a part of the Norwegian system of municipal-owned cinemas, superseding private ownership in the field. Only the Conservative Party and the...
. The museum is still owned by Oslo municipality via its etat
Etat
Etat is a Norwegian state-, county- or municipal agency. An Etat is a subdivision of the administration, which has been given responsibility for a special area. An agency does not have a board of directors, but it does have a director, appointed by the subordinate organization. Normally decisions...
of culture, and the current museum director is Jarle Strømodden.
Immediately north of the museum is the more famous Vigeland Sculpture Park—which showcases Vigeland's larger statues and sculptures—and the Frogner Park
Frogner Park
Frogner Park is a public park located in the borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The park contains the world famous Vigeland Sculpture Park designed by Gustav Vigeland....
. The highway Ring 2
Ring 2 (Oslo)
Ring 2, sometimes called Kirkeveiringen and until 2010 officially known as National Road 161 , and now also officially County road 161 , , is an important ring road and surface street through densely populated parts of Oslo, Norway....
runs nearby, and buses as well as Oslo Tramway provide for public transportation. The museum is within reasonable walking distance of the stations Frogner plass on the Frogner Line
Frogner Line
The Frogner Line is a section of the Oslo Tramway which runs between Solli and Majorstuen, serving the neighborhood of Frogner. The line is served by tram number 12, and the Frogner section makes up the westernmost part of this line...
, and, further away, Nobels gate
Nobels gate (station)
Nobels gate is a light rail station on the Oslo Tramway.Located at Frogner, it was opened by Kristiania Elektriske Sporvei on 31 December 1894 as an extension of the Skøyen Line. It is served by line 13.-References:...
on the Skøyen Line
Skøyen Line
The Skøyen Line is a tramway line running from Slottsparken to Skøyen in Oslo, Norway. It is served by line 13 of the Oslo Tramway. It connects the Briskeby Line at Slottsparken to the Lilleaker Line at Skøyen....
(the now-closed station Halvdan Svartes gate was proximate as well).