Adolf Heinrich Hansen was an academy-trained Danish painter of buildings, cityscapes, animals and interiors.
Born in Copenhagen, Hansen was initially taught by his father, Heinrich Hansen, a distinguished architectural painter responsible for numerous high-profile commissions. His father’s work included decorating the burial chapel of King Christian IV and aiding with restoration projects at various castles. He was also a professor of perspective at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
As a boy, he would’ve been educated in the basics of precise draughtsmanship, with an emphasis on foreshortening and the treatment of light effects. This served as the foundation of his impressive career and he followed dutifully in his father’s footsteps.
Following additional tuition at CF Andersen's sketching school, Hansen enrolled at the Academy and soon debuted, in 1885, at Denmark’s leading show, the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition. Two years later, he too became a teacher of perspective - quite an achievement at 28 years old.
His interiors are not only beautifully rendered, they’re also a celebration of craft. It’s evident that he was enamoured with displays of ostentation, particularly those which echoed the 18th-century Rococo period. It’s interesting that in 1889, he depicted a room at Rosenborg Castle where his father had earlier undertaken various projects.
His trips to Italy, including Rome in around 1890, were surely a feast for the eyes.
Adolf Heinrich Hansen is represented in numerous public collections including the Aarhus Kunstmuseum.
Exhibited
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen, Exposition Universelle in Paris, World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Den Frie Udstilling, Artists' Association.
Public Collections
North Gyll. Art Museum, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, North Jutland Art Museum.
Timeline
1859
Born in Copenhagen to Heinrich Hansen, an architectural painter, and Margrethe Elisabeth Burmeister.
Studied at CF Andersen's sketching school.
1883-1886
Enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen.
1885
Debuted at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, Copenhagen. He continued to exhibit until 1909.
1887-1896
Taught perspective at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen.
1889
Shown at the Exposition Universelle, Paris.
Married Karen Margrethe Leuning.
1893
Shown at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.
1893-1896
Shown in Berlin.
Taught perspective at the Art School for Women, Copenhagen.
1899
Shown in Munich.
1911
Shown at Den Frie Udstilling.
1917
Married Ellen Marie Irene Kretzschmer.
1921
Shown at the exhibition of the Artists' Association.
1923-1924
Shown at the exhibition of the Artists' Association.
1925
Travelled to Normandy.
Died in Fredensborg.