Christian Abrahamsen timeline
BORN: July 20, 1887 Bergen, Norway
DIED: January 24, 1983 Madison, WI
MARRIED:
TRAINING
Art Industrial School, Bergen, Norwaywith Koren Wilberg and Ansor Hansen
1909-1911 Art Institute of Chicago, evenings and summers
Anders Zorn[1]
ART RELATED EMPLOYMENT
1924 Commissioned to paint fifteen portraits, Northwestern University[2]
TEACHING
RESIDENCES
1909 immigrated to Chicago
1945 Madison, Wisconsin
TRAVEL
1914 Norway; Sweden; Denmark; England[3]
c.1942 Stone City, Iowa
MEMBERSHIPS/OFFICES
HONORS
1911 William O. Goodman First Prize, Art Students’ League of Chicago[4]
1914 Portrait of Mary and Louise Fenton, shown in private trustees’ room, Art Institute of Chicago[5]
1927 Oscar H. Haugan Prize, Chicago Norske Klub, Norwegian-American Artists[6]
1932 Municipal Art League Portrait Prize, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago & Vicinity[7]
1938 Martin B. Cahn Prize, Art Institute of Chicago, American Annual[8]
SELECTED JURIES SERVED
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
All-Illinois Society of Fine Art annual 1926
Art Institute of Chicago, Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture by Artists Who Received Prizes In the Chicago Exhibitions for 1930, 1931, 1932, 7/21/1932
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Gallery, Exhibition by Chicago Portrait Painters 1918[9]
Illinois Academy of Fine Arts annual 1928
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts annual 1919
ONE, TWO OR THREE MAN EXHIBITIONS
1916 Moulton and Ricketts Gallery, Chicago[10]
1917 His studio at 19 E. Pearson, Chicago[11]
1939 Augustana College[12]
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Art Institute of Chicago, Winter, 1911 (deaccessioned)
Augustana College
Northwestern University[13]
St. Olaf College
Vesterheim Museum of Art, Decorah, Iowa
Wisconsin State Historical Society
INTERESTING NOTES
The critic Marion Nelson stated, “{He} is also unquestionably the finest portraitist of Norwegian background in America.”[14] For awhile in the 1910s he lived in Chicago’s Tree Studio building.
His portrait of Mrs. Paul Bartlett was given unusual press coverage upon its completion. “Figure Pulses With Life,” was one headline.[15]
[1]The Artists’ Guild Report, (Chicago: The Artists' Guild, March 1914), p.9.
[2]“Will Paint Portraits for University,” The Chicago Evening Post Magazine of the Art World, 12/23/1924, p.8.
[3]Chicago Record-Herald, 6/28/1914 in Art Institute of Chicago Scrapbooks, vol. 32. He was invited to Denmark by art Danish art critic George Brandes, who portrait Abrahamsen painted while the critic visited Chicago. The portrait is illustrated in this article.
[4]Chicago Examiner, 5/11/1911 in Art Institute of Chicago Scrapbooks, vol. 27. “My mother is so proud and happy! Of course I wrote the grand news to her as soon as the blue ribbon went on my picture. It’s wonderful everything that’s happened since that picture went into the exhibition.” “This painting is one of several that elicited Sorolla’s admiration. ‘Rare genius!’ the famous Spanish artist exclaimed when he closely studied Abrahamson’s canvas.” Sorolla went on to tell the young artist he will become a master and his fellow students cheered him on his success, marching him on their shoulders.
[5]“Portrait of Fenton’s Grand Daughters,” Chicago Evening Post, 6/27/1914 in Art Institute of Chicago Scrapbooks, vol. 32, p.13.
[6]The prize was awarded his group of paintings, see: “Norwegian-American Show at Norske Club,” The Chicago Evening Post Magazine of the Art World, 11/22/1927, p.7.
[7]The prize was awarded his Portrait of Mr. J, “Chicago Show Prizes,” Chicago Evening Post, 2/2/1932, Art Section, p.5.
[8]The prize was awarded his Spirit of the Clan.
[9]“Exhibition by Chicago Portrait Painters,” Fine Arts Journal, Vol. 36, November 1918, pp.34-39. This show was very important as only Chicago’s “best” portrait artists, thirteen in all, were invited.
[10]Mention was made in Anne Ellis, “Art,” Chicago Tribune, 3/19/1916, p.G5.
[11]One of his drawings of prominent people, Miss Ginerva King, was illustrated in “Comment by Mme. X,” Chicago Tribune, 12/9/1917, p.C4.
[12]Lynn L. Ash, “Work of Norwegian Artist Who Did Andreen Portrait Being Shown at Augustana,” Rock Island Argus, 10/27/1939.
[13]His portrait of James Lambert High was illustrated in The Chicago Evening Post Magazine of the Art World, 4/24/1928, p.3.
[14]Nelson, Marion. Norway in American: Painting and Drawing. Vesterheim Museum, 1989.
[15]H. Effa Webster, “Portrait By Chicago Artist Masterpiece,” Chicago Examiner, 8/29/1912 in Art Institute of Chicago Scrapbooks, vol. 29.