Henrik Olrik

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

Henrik Olrik, born in Copenhagen, was son of a customs inspector—Henrik Johan Ludvig Olrik—and Benevento Dicte Marti Nette. Initially, he studied sculpture under Herman Wilhelm Bissen and found his first job in the Royal Porcelain Factory (Royal Copenhagen) for which he made reduced copies of Bertel Thorvaldsen works. Simultaneously he was attending the decoration classes at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts where he received silver medals for his works in 1848 and 1951. In 1853, together with 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 was studying 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 Danish Parliament and representatives of Danish and Scandinavian high society, including Sigurd Ibsen and Henrik Ibsen. Henrik 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.

Being successful as a painter, Olrik had however newer turned away from 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 another occasion, he prepared a design of a monument for Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

Olrik is also known as the author of the design of the first Danish 10 Kr and 100 Kr banknotes.

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.

Married in May 1959 to Hermine Valentine. He was the father of Benedicte Olrik, Dagmar Olrik, Axel Olrik, Eyvind Olrik, Hans Olrik and Jørgen Olrik.

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  Henrik Olrik: portrait of King Christian IX of Denmark
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  Henrik Olrik: portrait of Henrik Ibsen
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  Henrik Olrik: alterpiece, 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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