Cornelius Høyer (26 February 1741 – 2 June 1804) was a Danish painter, mainly known for his work in miniatures. Within his special trade, he was among the virtuosos of his day and won an international reputation.

Early life and education

Høyer was born at the Kronborg Rifle Factory. From an early age he attended the

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 ...

, studying under

Carl Gustaf Pilo Carl Gustaf Pilo (5 March 1711 – 2 March 1793) was a Swedish painter. Pilo worked extensively in Denmark as a painter to the Danish Royal Court and as professor and director at the Royal Danish Academy of Art (), as well as in his native S ...

and

Louis Tocqué Jean Louis Tocqué (; 19 November 1696 – 10 February 1772) was a French people, French painter. He specialized in portrait painting. Biography Jean Louis Tocqué was born on 19 November 1696 in Paris. His father, who was also a painter, died ...

, and later continued his education in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

where Jean-Baptiste Masse taught him

miniature painting Miniature painting may refer to: * Miniature (illuminated manuscript), a small illustration used to decorate an illuminated manuscript ** Persian miniature, a small painting on paper in the Persian tradition, for a book or album ** Ottoman miniatur ...

. A visit to

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

in 1767 introduced him to

Rosalba Carriera Rosalba Carriera (12 January 1673 – 15 April 1757) was an Italians, Italian Rococo painter. In her younger years, she specialized in portrait miniatures. Carriera would later become known for her pastel portraits, helping popularize the medium ...

and he learned new skills, including the special technique of painting on

ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and Tooth, teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mamm ...

Career

In 1769, Høyer was appointed Miniature Painter to the Danish Court and the following year he became a member of the Academy. Visits to several European courts, including those in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

and

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

, contributed to his increasing international reputation.

Personal life

Høyer was married to Frederikke Christiane Fortling (17551829), daughter of the court stone mason Jacob Fortling (1711–61) and Anne Christine Hellesen (c. 1724–72). They were wed on On 15 October 1773 in St. Peter's Church in Copenhagen.

Gallery

File:Carl Gustav Pilo by Cornelius Høyer.jpg,

Carl Gustav Pilo Carl Gustaf Pilo (5 March 1711 – 2 March 1793) was a Swedish painter. Pilo worked extensively in Denmark as a painter to the Danish Royal Court and as professor and director at the Royal Danish Academy of Art (), as well as in his native S ...

by Høyer File:Anna Elisabeth Ter Borch.jpg, Anna Elisabeth Ter Borch by Høyer File:Cornelius Höyer - Duke Karl (XIII) - S 378 - Finnish National Gallery.jpg, Duke Karl (XIII) by Høyer File:Peter van Hemert by Høyer.jpg, Peter van Hemert by Høyer File:Jean-Baptiste Massé by Cornelius Høyer.jpg, Jean-Baptiste Masse by Høyer File:Gustav III med Gustav Adolf.jpg, Gustav Adolf by Høyer File:Cornelius Höyer - Princess Sofia Albertina - S 433 - Finnish National Gallery.jpg, Princess Sofia Albertina File:Magdalene Charlotte Schimmelmann, f. Schubart.jpg, Magdalene Charlotte Schimmelmann (née Schubart by Høyer

References

Portrait miniaturists 18th-century Danish painters 18th-century Danish male artists Danish male painters 1741 births 1804 deaths Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni {{Denmark-painter-stub

Early life and education

Career

Personal life

Gallery

See also

References