Wilhelm Wanscer (21 April 1802 4 December 1882) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

paper merchant and art collector, remembered above all for his associations with the philosopher Søren Kirkegård and some of the leading

Danish Golden Age The Danish Golden Age ( da, Den danske guldalder) covers a period of exceptional creative production in Denmark, especially during the first half of the 19th century.Kulturnet DanmarkGuide to the Danish Golden Age Although Copenhagen had suffered ...

artists. He was the father of surgeon and industrialist Axel Wanscher, grandfather of art historian and great-grandfather of the designer

Ole Wanscher Ole Wanscher (16 September 1903 – 27 December 1985) was a Danish furniture designer. He was one of the leading figures in the Scandinavian Design movement (a part of Mid-Century Modernism), at a time when Scandinavian Design achieved worldwide ...

Early life and education

Wanscher was born on 21 April 1802 in Copenhagen, the son of Christopher Wanscher (16591841 and Karen Smidt (18671841). His father was a paper merchant based in

Gothersgade Gothersgade is a major street in the City Centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends from Kongens Nytorv to Sortedam Lake, passing Rosenborg Castle and Gardens, Nørreport Station and Copenhagen Botanic Gardens on the way. Every day at 11:30 am, ...

Career

Wanscher was licensed as a wholesale merchant (''grosserer'') in 1833 and started his own business the same year. It was based in the old Weisenhuset building at Købmagergade 44 (then Rosenborg Quarter, No. 6). He was the first external distributor of paper products from Strandmøllen north of Copenhagen. He was one of the largest suppliers of paper products to the Danish state. His other customers included the newspaper Adresseavisen and the book printer Bianco Luno.

Personal life

Wanscher married on 19 May 1834 in Værløse Church Karen Johanne Juliane Wegener (18161879). She was the daughter of educator Jens Ernst Wegener and Birgitte Marie Bindesbøll. Her maternal uncle was the architect Gottlieb Bindesbøll. Wanscher was the owner of a substantial art collection. A number of the leading painters of the time, including

Constantin Hansen Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin Hansen) (3 November 1804 – 29 March 1880) was one of the painters associated with the Golden Age of Danish Painting. He was deeply interested in literature and mythology, and inspired by art hist ...

, Jørgen

Roed Roed or Røed is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Bolette Roed (born 1979), Danish recorder player *Eivind Daniel Røed (born 1992), Norwegian football player and manager *Fritz Røed (1928–2002), Norwegian sculptor *Gullik M ...

and

Wilhelm Marstrand Nicolai Wilhelm Marstrand (24 December 1810 – 25 March 1873), painter and illustrator, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Nicolai Jacob Marstrand, instrument maker and inventor, and Petra Othilia Smith. Marstrand is one of the most renowned ar ...

, frequently visited his home. Heinrich Hansen - Parti fra Wilhelm Wanschers hus i Hellerup

He also had a friendly relation with the philosopher

Søren Kierkegaard Søren Aabye Kierkegaard ( , , ; 5 May 1813 – 11 November 1855) was a Danish theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical texts on ...

. He was introduced to him by Kierkegaard's cousin (and his own neighbor, Rosenborg Quarter No. 7), Johan Christian Lund (1799-1875), a silk merchant and politician, from whom he rented the country house Tolvkanten north of Copenhagen. A few years later Wanscher had his own country house built in Hellerup. In the early 1850s, he also bought a piece of land on Gammel Kongevej from Vianco Luno, formerly part of Luno's Christianshvile estate, and used it for the construction of an imposing apartment building.

Death and legacy

Wanscher died on 4 December 1882. The funeral took place on 9 December in the Church of the Holy Ghost. His art collection was sold at auction after his death. He was survived by seven of his children: * Karen Johanne Marie Wanscher (1836-1912) * Nanna Wanscher (1838-1915) was married to Carl Alexis Henrik Bernhard Videbech * Wilhelmine Wanscher (1840-1892) was married to Hans Wilhelm Berg * Wilhelm Wanscher (1842-1901) * Helene Wanscher (1844-1912) * (1846-1906) was a prominent surgeon. He was married to Johanne Margrethe, daughter of . * Axel Wanscher (1848-1877) was a prominent industrialist. He was married to Arngoth Dorothea Petronella Christine Laub (cousin of

Thomas Laub Thomas Linnemann Laub (5 December 1852 – 4 February 1927) was a Danish organist and composer. Notable works *1888 ''80 rytmiske Koraler'', en enstemmig samling *1889–1891 ''Kirkemelodier'', tre hæfter med firstemmige udsættelser *1890 ...

) and the father of art historian grandfather of designer

. Wanscherøs building on Gammel Kongevej (today Gammel Kongevej 137B-D( is now hidden from the street by a newer apartment building, Fammel Kongevej 136–38, constructed by Albert Nicolai Schioldann in 1855. In 1912, Nanna Wanscher published her childhood memoirs as ''Minder fra min barndom og ungdom''. File:Frederik Rohde - Udsigt mod Joenstrup Seminarium - 1850.png, Painting from Eanscher's collection: Frederik Rodhe's ''View of Joenstrup Seminarium''. Wamscher's father-in-law was headmaster of the institution. File:Gammel Kongevej 138A-B (Frederiksberg).jpg, Wilhelm Wanscher's building on Gammel Kongevej

References

External links

{{Commons category, Wilhelm Wanscher
Wilhelm Wanscher
at geni.com
Catalogue
of Wanscher's art collection 19th-century Danish businesspeople Danish art collectors 1802 births 1882 deaths