Henrik Olrik

Ole Henrik Benedictus Olrik (24 May, 1830 – 2 January, 1890) was a Danish painter and sculptor.

Personal life

Henrik Olrik, born in Copenhagen, was son of customs inspector Henrik Johan Ludvig Olrik and Benedicte Martinette (née Heiberg). He married Hermine Valentine in May 1859, and they had five children, Benedicte Olrik, Dagmar Olrik, Axel Olrik, Eyvind Olrik, Hans Olrik and Jørgen Olrik.

Career as an Artist

Olrik initially studied sculpture under Herman Wilhelm Bissen and found his first job in the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory, where he made reduced copies of Bertel Thorvaldsen works. He simultaneously attended the decoration classes at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he received silver medals for his works in 1848 and 1851.

In 1853, together with E. Vieth, Olrik won the Neuhausenske Prize for a silver sugar bowl. Later Olrik left Copenhagen for Paris to pursue his painting interests. In France he studied in the atelier of Thomas Couture and had his first painting exhibition in 1855.

After returning to Denmark, Olrik became quickly recognized as a reputable portrait painter and painted portraits of a wide variety of individuals including King Christian IX of Denmark, his daughter Alexandra - (later the Princess of Wales), members of the Danish Parliament and representatives of Danish and Scandinavian high society, including Sigurd Ibsen and Henrik Ibsen. Olrik also specialized in still lifes, landscapes, historic, and religious paintings. Some of his religious works can be found in Marble Church and St. Matthew's Church in Copenhagen.

In addition to being a successful painter, Olrik was active in the field of decorative arts and design. He made various design projects for numerous manufacturers including Ipsens Terrakottafabrik, Den Kongelige Porcelænsfabrik, HC Drewsens Elektropletfabrik, Royal Copenhagen, HC Drew's Electric Factory Cuckoo, V. Christesens Sølvvarefabrik, and Christ's Silver Product Factory. On one occasion, he prepared a design of a monument for Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

In 1871, Olrik become a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, in 1883 a Professor Titular, and in 1887 he was elected to Akademirådet.

Other

• Olrik designed of the first Danish 10 Kr and 100 Kr banknotes.

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  Portrait of King Christian IX of Denmark
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  Portrait of Henrik Ibsen
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  Altarpiece, Sankt Matthaeus Church, Copenhagen

References

• http://www.bruun-rasmussen.dk/search.do?iid=300245135&mode=detail
• Wikipedia, English biographical dictionary, published by CF Bricka, Gyldendal (1887-1905)
• Peter Nørgaard Larsen: Olrik, Ole Henrik Benedictus, 1830 - 1890, painter and sculptor "(p. 254-256). Sys Hartmann (red): Weilbach. Sys Hartmann . Danish artist Lexicon. Copenhagen, 1997.
• Lorentz Dietrichson: svundne timing. Af en Forfatters Ungdomserindringer . Of an Author's Youth Erindringer. Rooms III and Stockholm. JW Cappelens Publishing. Kristiania, 1901.
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