Emanuel Vigeland

Emanuel Vigeland (2. December 1875 - 22. December 1948) was a multitalented Norwegian artist.

Background

August Emanuel Vigeland was born in Halse og Harkmark in Mandal, Vest-Agder county. Vigeland was born to a family of craftsmen. His parents were Elesæus Thorsen (1835-1886), a cabinetmaker and Anne Aanensdatter (1835-1907). His brother was sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. In autumn 1894, he was went to Oslo as a student at the Norwegian National Academy. In the spring of 1897 he debuted at the National art exhibition. Vigeland went to Copenhagen in the autumn of 1898 and was a student of Peder Severin Krøyer on the Den Frie Studieskole. From October 1899 to February 1902, Vigeland stayed abroad, first as a student in Paris, then in Italy, in Spain and the UK.

Career

Stained glass above altar in Oscarskyrkan

His first solo exhibition he held at the Dioramalokalet on Karl Johan street in Oslo during February 1902. In 1905, Vigeland traveled to Italy under a scholarship to study frescos, a journey that also took him to Egypt and Jerusalem. He was particularly concerned with Florence monumental painting. In 1909, Vigeland was commissioned to decorate frescoes, stained glass and lighting equipment for the first Norwegian Crematorium (Det gamle kapell) and the same year he was invited to participate in the prestigious competition for the decoration of the new Atrium at the University of Oslo .

Mostly known for his paintings, Vigeland also produced frescos, stained glass and sculptures. Many of his designs are inspired by Christianity, and he decorated the interior of a number of churches principally in Norway. Noteworthy were the design of the interiors, from the pulpit and altar to light fixtures and other decor, in Bryn Church (Bryn kirke) in Bærum, (1911-14) and Gjerpen Church (Gjerpen kirke) at Skien (1919-21). Other notable example would include the chandeliers and wall lamps in the choir and the ship in the Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger domkirke) and the stained glass in the Århus Cathedral (Århus Domkirke).

From 1919-22, he ran a school for stained glass art at his studio at Slemdal. In the 1920s he was at the height of his fame, having conducted a series of successful missions abroad. Vigeland was acquainted with Swedish archbishop Nathan Söderblom and through this connection he was introduced to the Swedish People's Church Movement (Folkkyrkorörelsen). Particularly extensive and prestigious was his work with glass paintings at Oscar's Cathedral (Oscarskyrkan) in Stockholm (1919-1929).

Tomba Emmanuelle

Vigeland made of his mausoleum (Tomba Emmanuelle) his magnum opus. His mausoleum, which doubles as a modest museum to Emanuel Vigeland's art, is located in Oslo. It is shaped like a small windowless church, which has overwhelming acoustics that make speaking out loud almost impossible. The inside walls and roof are covered in a giant fresco, Vita, depicting human life, love and death. Several sculptures of women giving birth adorn the floor. The entry to the mausoleum is very low and the urn containing the ashes of the artist is in a niche above the entry, thus forcing all visitors to bow to him when exiting. It is rumoured that Emanuel was annoyed by always being in the shadow of his better known brother Gustav Vigeland and that this geste of morbid humour was his posthumous revenge.

The amazing acoustics of the mausoleum can be heard a recording by American folk artist Jay Brannan, who was allowed a private visit during which he was videotaped singing his composition, Death Waltz.

External links

• Emanuel Vigeland Museum in Oslo
• Tomba Emmanuelle