Aksel Christian Henrik Hansen (2 September 1853 – 3 May 1933) was a Danish sculptor, one of the most productive of his times.
Biography
The son of a stonemason, Hansen was born in Odense, Denmark. After an apprenticeship with his father, he studied architecture at the
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1876-1879). He exhibited at the
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition from 1880. He received the
Hielmstierne-Rosencrone and the Ancker scholarships in 1888. He conducted study trips to Italy 1888-89 and to Greece 1904.
While following the classical tradition of
Herman Wilhelm Bissen, he was also influenced by French
Naturalism and the
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
style. This emerging trend can be seen in his masterpiece, ''Echo'' (1888), in Copenhagen's
Rosenborg Castle Gardens, as well as in Gustav Lotze's tomb with its slender female figures in Odense's Assistens Cemetery. His statue of ''Uffe den Spage'' (1904), outside the Østerbro Stadium, shows how the Nordic character is reflected in ancient legends. Among his best known works are the six giants in the guardroom at
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace ( da, Christiansborg Slot; ) is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament ('), the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme ...
(1912) and the equestrian statue of
King Christian IX (1912) in Odense's Royal Gardens.
Karin Kryger, "Aksel Hansen"
''Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs kunstnerleksikon''. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
List of works
*''Echo'', Rosenborg Castle Gardens, Copenhagen (1888)
* Hans Tausen Monument, Birkende, Funen (1894)
* Christian IV, Odense Palace, Odense
* ''Ancient hunter'', Dalgas Boulevard, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen
* ''Ambrosius'', Frederick's Church, Copenhagen
Image gallery
Image:Ekko Kongens Have.JPG, ''Echo''
Rosenborg Castle Gardens
Image:Urjægeren Aksel Hansen.JPG, ''Ancient hunter''
Frederiksberg
Image:Christian IX Odense.JPG, ''Christian IX''
Odense
References
1853 births
1933 deaths
People from Odense
20th-century Danish sculptors
Male sculptors
19th-century sculptors
20th-century Danish male artists
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