Harald Slott-Møller (; 17 August 1864 – 20 October 1937) was a Danish painter and ceramist. Together with his wife, the painter
Agnes Slott-Møller
Agnes Slott-Møller, née Rambusch (10 June 1862 in Nyboder – 11 June 1937 in Løgismose, Assens Municipality), was a Danish Symbolist painter; influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites. She is known for works inspired by Danish history and folklore. ...
, he was a founding member of
Den Frie Udstilling
Den Frie Udstilling ('The Free Exhibition') is a Danish artists' association, founded in 1891 by artists in protest against the admission requirements for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Modeled on the Salon des Refusés, it is Denmark's oldest asso ...
(The Free Exhibition).
Early life
Born in Copenhagen, Slott-Møller was the son of merchant Carl Emil Møller and Anna Maria née Møller. After completing the preparatory course at 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 ...
(1883), he painted for three years under
Peder Severin Krøyer
Peder Severin Krøyer (; 23 July 1851 – 21 November 1909), also known as P. S. Krøyer, was a Danish painter.
Life
Growing up and early training
Krøyer was born in Stavanger, Norway, on 23 July 1851 to a single mother, Ellen Cecilie Gjes ...
.
["Harald Slott-Møller"]
''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon''. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
Career
Slott-Møller first exhibited in 1886 at the
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition
The Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition (''Charlottenborg Forårsudstilling'') is an annual art exhibition in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The event is held at the Charlottenborg Exhibition Building (''Kunsthal Charlottenborg'').
Kunsthal Cha ...
and attracted attention in 1888 with his large lively work ''Fattigfolk i Fattiglægens Venteværelse'' (Poor People in the Poor Doctor's Waiting Room). He exhibited at
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Kunsthal Charlottenborg is an exhibition building in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the official exhibition gallery of the Royal Danish Academy of Art.
History
Charlottenborg Palace was constructed in 1672–83 as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gy ...
and
Den Frie Udstilling
Den Frie Udstilling ('The Free Exhibition') is a Danish artists' association, founded in 1891 by artists in protest against the admission requirements for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Modeled on the Salon des Refusés, it is Denmark's oldest asso ...
with individual portraits, such as that of
Georg Brandes
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes (4 February 1842 – 19 February 1927) was a Danish critic and scholar who greatly influenced Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind ...
(''Georg Brandes at the University in Copenhagen'', 1889),
and landscapes, which often featured a prominent spot. A change in style occurred in the early 1890s as can be seen in his portrait of the sculptor
Anne Marie Brodersen, in which her fair hair is covered with gold, as are the cornfields in one of his landscapes. Then followed a series of painting which ensured him a place as one of the principal participants in 1890 painting: ''Tre kvinder'' (Three Women), ''Foraaret'' (Spring), and his strikingly symbolic work ''Primavera'' (1901).
[ Slott-Møller is remembered for his portraits of well-known figures from Southern Jutland and South Schleswig, often characterized with customized backgrounds such as a landscape or appropriate buildings.
He also worked at the ]faience
Faience or faïence (; ) is the general English language term for fine tin-glazed pottery. The invention of a white Ceramic glaze, pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an stannous oxide, oxide of tin to the Slip (c ...
factory Aluminia from 1902 to 1906 designing a number of notable items together with . As a result, Slott-Møller gained wide recognition as one of the leading craftsmen of the turn of the century. Although he continued to paint, opinions about his work became ever less supportive, partly on artistic grounds but also as a result of his attitude towards the public.[
In 1919, he became a ]Knight of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as ''White Knights'' t ...
. He was a founding member of Den Frie Udstilling
Den Frie Udstilling ('The Free Exhibition') is a Danish artists' association, founded in 1891 by artists in protest against the admission requirements for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Modeled on the Salon des Refusés, it is Denmark's oldest asso ...
(The Free Exhibition). He is buried at Holmens Cemetery
Holmen Cemetery (Danish language, Danish: Holmens Kirkegård) is the oldest cemetery still in use in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was first located next to the Royal Danish Navy, naval Church of Holmen in the city centre but relocated to its current si ...
.[
Slott-Møller is portrayed in a double portrait: ''Ude eller Kammerater'' (Out or Comrades, 1886) in which he and his wife have painted each other. Another self-portrait based on a study drawing was ''Trækfuglene'' (Migratory Birds, 1909). There is also a self-portrait in ]Florence
Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025.
Florence ...
's Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery ( ; , ) is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. One of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of ...
(1924).Birgit Jenvold, "Harald Slott-Møller"
''Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs kunstnerleksikon''. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
Selected paintings
File:Harald Slott-Møller - Badende unge piger.png, ''Nude Girls'', c. 1910
File:Sommerdag (1888 - Harald Slott-Møller).jpg, ''Summer Day'', 1888
File:Slot Moller On the beach.jpg, ''On the beach'', 1907
File:Slot Moller Picnic.jpg, ''Picnic'', 1919
File:Harald Slott-Møller-Primavera.jpg, ''Primavera'', 1901
File:Harald Slott-Moller Midsummer's Eve.jpg, ''Midsummer's Eve'', 1904
File:Slott Moller Three woman.jpg, ''Three Women'', 1895
File:Adam and Eve by Harald Slott-Moller - Statens Museum for Kunst - DSC08287.JPG, ''Adam and Eve'', 1891
File:Slot Moller Nude.jpg, ''Nude'', 1910
File:Slott Moller Garda.jpg, ''At the Garda Lake'', 1910
File:Slot Moller Morgenkaffen.jpg, ''Morning Coffee'', c. 1910
File:Trækfuglene.jpg, ''Birdwatching'', 1909
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slott-Moller, Harald
1864 births
1937 deaths
Artists from Copenhagen
20th-century Danish ceramists
Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog
19th-century Danish painters
Danish male painters
20th-century Danish painters
Burials at Holmen Cemetery
19th-century Danish male artists
20th-century Danish male artists