Signing of the Treaty of Versailles, by John Christen Johansen

John Christen Johansen (November 25, 1876 – May 23, 1964) was a Danish- American portraitist. His work was part of the art competitions at the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

and the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...

Background

Johansen was born in Copenhagen and came to America as an infant. He studied in Cincinnati under Frank DuveneckPaintings by John C. Johansen and M. Jean McLane January 3 to 23 191
online
retrieved May 24, 2009 and later at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he taught from 1901 to 1911. While a member of the faculty of the Art Institute he met, and later wed, recognized portraitist

M. Jean McLane M. Jean McLane (born Myrtle Jean MacLane) (September 14, 1878 – January 23, 1964), was an American portraitist. Her works were exhibited and won awards in the United States and in Europe. She made portrait paintings of women and children. McLane ...

(1878–1964). Before focusing primarily on portraiture Johansen painted landscapes. In 1915 he was elected to the National Academy of Design.

Career

Leaving Chicago in 1919, Johansen moved to Paris, where he studied at the

Académie Julian The Académie Julian () was a private art school for painting and sculpture founded in Paris, France, in 1867 by French painter and teacher Rodolphe Julian (1839–1907) that was active from 1868 through 1968. It remained famous for the number a ...

where he learned academic technique while being exposed to the ideas of modernism. He maintained friendships with other artists including James Abbott McNeill Whistler and

John Singer Sargent John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 14, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian-era luxury. He created roughly 900 oil paintings and more ...

Grave of John Christen Johansen (1876–1964) at Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago

At the conclusion of World War I, Johansen was commissioned by the U.S. government to document the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which today hangs in the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: *National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra *National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London, with s ...

, Smithsonian Institution. Other portraits include the original Presidential portrait of President Herbert Hoover, official U.S. Department of Justice portrait of

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

Robert H. Jackson Robert Houghwout Jackson (February 13, 1892 – October 9, 1954) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Unit ...

(which later became the basis of the official U.S. Supreme Court portrait of Justice

), official Vermont State House portrait of Governor

Percival Clement Percival Wood Clement (July 7, 1846January 9, 1927) was an American politician who served as the 57th governor of Vermont from 1919 to 1921. Biography Clement was born on July 7, 1846, in Rutland, Vermont, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Woo ...

, two works in the United States Capitol, and works in the collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, National Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Academy of Design, the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mill ...

and the Richmond Art Museum. He died in New Canaan, Connecticut on May 23, 1964, at the age of 87, and was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

Awards

*Young Fortnightly prize, Chicago (1903) *Honorable mention, Arts Club of Chicago (1903) *Medal of honor,

Chicago Society of Artists The Chicago Society of Artists is a non-profit organization. The "CSA is the oldest continuing association of artists in the United States. Since its inception and incorporation in 1889, the Chicago Society of Artists has had two primary objectives ...

(1904) *Bronze medal, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis (1904) *Gold medal, Grand Prix Exposition, Buenos Aires (1910)

Notes

References

Other sources

*Lewis, R.W.B. and Nancy Lewis. ''American Characters - Selections From The National Portrait Gallery, Accompanied By Literary Portraits.'' Yale University: 2000. ASIN B000JZVXP2. * Robbins, Daniel. ''The Vermont State House: A History and Guide.'' The Vermont State House Preservation Committee: 1980. *Voss, Frederick S. ''Portraits of the Presidents Revised Edition: The National Portrait Gallery.'' Rizolli: 2007. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Johansen, John Christen 1876 births 1964 deaths 19th-century American painters American male painters 20th-century American painters Danish emigrants to the United States Artists from Copenhagen School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni Académie Carmen alumni Olympic competitors in art competitions 19th-century American male artists 20th-century American male artists