Oscar Arnold Wergeland (12 October 1844 – 20 May 1910) was a Norwegian painter. He is best known for his

historical painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and Bi ...

of the Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll (''Riksforsamlingen på Eidsvoll 1814''). Two of his paintings are held in the

National Gallery of Norway The National Gallery () is a gallery in Oslo, Norway. Since 2003 it is administratively a part of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design. History It was established in 1842 following a parliamentary decision from 1836. Originally lo ...

Family

His parents were Sverre Nicolai Wergeland (1817–1896) and Anne Margrethe Larsen (1817–1889). His sister was

Agnes Mathilde Wergeland Agnes Mathilde Wergeland (May 8, 1857 – March 6, 1914) was a Norwegian-American historian, poet and educator. Agnes Mathilde Wergeland was the first woman ever to earn a doctoral degree in Norway. Early life and education Agnes Mathilde W ...

(1857–1914), who emigrated to the United States and became known as an author. He was the great-nephew of Nicolai Wergeland, a priest, writer, and politician, and a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll. Hence

Henrik Wergeland Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (17 June 1808 – 12 July 1845) was a Norwegian writer, most celebrated for his poetry but also a prolific playwright, polemicist, historian, and linguist. He is often described as a leading pioneer in the develop ...

, Camilla Collett, and Joseph Frantz Oscar Wergeland were cousins of his father.

Biography

Wergeland was born in Oslo, Norway. Several of his siblings died early, and his father went to America around 1860. He was a student of David Arnesen (1818–1895) during 1859 and of the

Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry The National College of Art and Design () was established in 1818. In 1996, the National College of Art and Design became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts (''Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo'', KHiO), along with the Norwegian National Academy of ...

from 1865 to 1867. He also attended the art school operated by Johan Fredrik Eckersberg (1822–1870) from 1865 to 1869. He was a student at the Copenhagen

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...

in 1869. He studied

history painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and B ...

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

1874 – 1876, and lived in Munich until 1889. From 1889 he was teaching at the

Kristiania Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022, an ...

. The painting ''Riksforsamlingen på Eidsvoll 1814'' was probably begun in 1882. Wergeland copied well over 60 portrait to get the result as credible as possible. The picture includes 55 portraits of the constitutional fathers. (Not all of the 112 persons are viewable.) Today it is located in the

Norwegian Parliament The Storting ( ; ) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional represe ...

, behind the speaker's platform and the presidential podium."Eidsvoll 1814 – Oscar Arnold Wergelands (1844–1910) kjente maleri fra 1885"
– ''www.stortinget.no'' (Retrieved on May 9, 2008) The painting was used as the main reverse motif of Norwegian 100 kroner notes from 1962 to 1977. Additionally the painting appeared on several Norwegian postage stamps issued during 1918 for the 100th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll.

Notable works

* (1869) * (1877) * (1883) * , (1883) * (1892)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wergeland, Oscar 1844 births 1910 deaths 19th-century Norwegian painters 20th-century Norwegian painters Norwegian male painters Painters from Oslo Academic staff of the Oslo National Academy of the Arts 19th-century painters of historical subjects 19th-century Norwegian male artists 20th-century Norwegian male artists