Nikolai Johannes Astrup: From Priest's Son to Neo-Romantic Pioneer
Nikolai Johannes Astrup, born on August 30, 1880, in Kalvag Bremanger, Norway, was the first of fourteen siblings. When he was three, his father, Christian Astrup, a parish priest, relocated the family to Jølster. He faced a challenging upbringing, marked by rebellion against strict values and poor health. After spending time with his grandmother in Trondheim, he attended cathedral school from 1895 to 1897, where he struggled with asthma. Although he was expected to pursue a career in the clergy, he opted for art instead. In 1899, he moved to Kristiania, studied at Harriet Backer's school, and earned the Olaf Schou travel scholarship. He later studied under Christian Krohg in Paris, returning to Norway in spring 1902. His prominent works include Fjøsfrieri (1904) and Kjerringa med Lykta (1895-99).
Key facts
- Nikolai Johannes Astrup was born on August 30, 1880, in Kalvag Bremanger, Vestland county, Norway.
- He was the eldest of fourteen children; his father Christian Astrup was a parish priest at the Lutheran Ålhus Church in Jølster.
- He attended the cathedral school in Trondheim from 1895 to 1897 but had limited achievements due to asthma and dislike of school.
- In 1899, he moved to Kristiania (Oslo) and studied at Harriet Backer's private painting school after two weeks at the Royal School of Drawing.
- He received the Olaf Schou's travel scholarship in 1901, recommended by Kitty Kielland, and studied at the Académie Colarossi in Paris under Christian Krohg.
- He admired Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige, French primitive painter Henri Rousseau, and Swiss Symbolist Arnold Böcklin, naming his first son Arnold Böklin Astrup in 1914.
- His painting Fjøsfrieri (Courting in the Cowshed, 1904) foreshadowed his love for farm girl Engel.
- He returned to Norway in spring 1902; his early work Kjerringa med Lykta (1895-99) was painted on fabric from old trousers due to poverty.
Entities
Artists
- Nikolai Johannes Astrup
- Edvard Munch
- Thomas Fearnley
- Peder Balke
- Eilert Adelsteen Normann
- Harriet Backer
- Henrik Lund
- Kitty Kielland
- Christian Krohg
- Christian Kohg
- Utagawa Hiroshige
- Henri Rousseau
- Arnold Böcklin
- Engel
- Øystein Loge
- Peder Mørch Lodtz
- Petra Konstanse Lodtz
- Christian Astrup
Institutions
- Trondhjems Kunstforening (TKF)
- Royal School of Drawing (Kongelige tegneskole)
- Harriet Backer's private painting school
- Académie Colarossi
- Lutheran Ålhus Church
- Oslo City Museum
- Kode
Locations
- Kalvag Bremanger
- Vestland
- Norway
- Ålhus
- Jølster
- Bergen
- Trondheim
- Kristiania
- Oslo
- Paris
- France
- Germany
- Berlin
- Dresden
- Hamburg