Vilhelm Arnesen (1865-1948) was a celebrated Danish painter of maritime subjects.
Born in Flensburg, Germany, the son of a Sea Captain, Arnesen’s career was destined to be of a seafaring nature. Aside from sailing, his father was a keen modelmaker and thus filled the home with numerous diminutive ships. One can imagine young Vilhelm captivated by every new creation and discussing their construction in great detail. It’s said that he gained a sound knowledge of rigging via his father’s instruction.
At 17, he enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he remained for the following six years. This was exceedingly beneficial as he not only honed his technique but also developed connections with noteworthy patrons. For instance, during his time at the Academy, he accompanied the Danish Royal Family on various voyages and undoubtedly filled his sketchbooks with studies of vessels. It’s recorded that he would often travel aboard warships.
From this point on, his career was peppered with a myriad of adventures including trips to Italy, Finland, Holland, the United Kingdom, North America and Asia. Perhaps a restless soul, he continually sought new inspiration by exploring a diverse array of international shores.
His style was distinctly harmonious with balance a key tenet of his compositions. Rarely are seas frothing with volatility, as he preferred to portray nature as congruous with man. Rarely are skies brooding with melancholy, as he opted for radiance over solemnity.
At his essence, Arnesen was an explorer who could paint, rather than a painter who explored. And it’s telling that in a studio photo from around 1915, he bears the expression of a gentleman who would rather be at sea.
As recognition of his talent, he was awarded numerous accolades including the Neuhausen Prize twice, the Eckersberg Medal, and the Order of the Dannebrog.
Today, he’s represented at the Statens Museum for Kunst and at Aalborg.
Exhibited
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition (1887-1947), World's Columbian Exposition (1893).
Public Collections
Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Aalborg.
Timeline
1865
Born in Flensburg, Germany, to Captain Georg Arnesen and Justine Mathilde Arnesen (nee Koch).
1882-1888
Trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
1887
Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition.
1891
Travelled to Finland.
1893
Shown at the World's Columbian Exposition.
Awarded the Neuhausen Prize.
1894
Travelled to the Mediterranean.
1899
Travelled to Holland, England and France.
Travelled to East Asia.
Awarded the Neuhausen Prize.
1900
Married Agnes Valborg Mogensen in Odense.
1907
Travelled to England, Scotland, and Iceland.
Awarded the Eckersberg Medal.
1909
Travelled to Italy.
1910
Travelled to France and Holland.
1912
Married Johanne Petrine Berg in Kerteminde.
1914
Travelled to France.
1916
Married Erica Vilhelmine Baggesen in Korsør.
1922
Travelled to Italy.
1925
Travelled to North America.
1931
Knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog.
1948
Died in Copenhagen.