Gerhard Peter Frantz Munthe was a Norwegian painter and illustrator, born on July 19, 1849, in Elverum, Hedmark, and died on January 15, 1929, in Lysaker, Bærum. He is best known for his paintings and illustrations that often depicted Norwegian folk tales and legends.
Background and Personal Life
Munthe was born to physician Christopher Pavels Munthe and his wife Christine Margrethe Pavels Aabel. He was a brother of writer Margrethe Munthe and historians and military officers Hartvig Andreas Munthe and Carl Oscar Munthe. In December 1886, he married Sigrun Sandberg, and they settled in Sandvika and later Lysaker. The couple divorced in 1919, the same year she married Fridtjof Nansen.
Artistic Career
Munthe studied under Johan Fredrik Eckersberg in 1870 and continued under Morten Müller and Knud Bergslien until 1874. Between 1874 and 1876, he studied under Andreas Achenbach and his third cousin Ludvig Munthe in Düsseldorf. From 1877 to 1882, he lived in Munich most of the time, but many of his motifs were taken from Norway. At this time, he painted in the naturalist style. Some of his notable works include
Plowing With Horse by Otto Ludvig Sinding, which can be found on
WahooArt.com.
Munthe's work is represented in several museums, including the
National Gallery of Norway, where his paintings are part of the permanent collection. He also took part in international exhibitions such as the Exposition Universelle of 1900 and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904.
Style and Techniques
From the 1890s, Munthe experimented with decorative art in the Arts and Crafts style. He illustrated the works of
Snorri Sturluson, together with Erik Werenskiold, whom he had met in Munich. Some of his works were woven into large tapestries, such as
The second Hall, which can be found on
WahooArt.com.
Munthe was a member of the selection committee at Høstutstillingen from its start in 1882 to 1890. He was also a member of the board of the
National Gallery of Norway from 1892 to 1905 and Den norske Husflidsforening from 1897 until his death.
Awards and Legacy
Munthe was made a Commander of the
Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, and a Knight of the
Danish Order of the Dannebrog and the
Swedish Order of the Polar Star. His legacy can be seen in his numerous paintings and illustrations, which continue to inspire artists today.
Munthe's work can also be seen in the context of other Norwegian artists, such as Otto Ludvig Sinding and Edvard Munch, who are also represented on
WahooArt.com. His contributions to the world of art are a testament to his skill and dedication to his craft.