Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard

Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard , 1743-1809, Danish painter of the neoclassical school. He was a student of Eckersberg. Among his own pupils was Thorvaldsen, whom he greatly influenced. Abildgaard's work may be seen in the House of Representatives in Copenhagen.

Abildgaard, Nicolai Abraham (b Copenhagen, 11 Sept. 1743; d Frederiksdal, nr. Copenhagen, 4 June 1809). Danish Neoclassical painter, mainly of historical, literary, and mythological subjects. He studied at the Copenhagen Academy and then from 1772 to 1777 in Rome, where his friendship with Fuseli helped to introduce Romantic elements to his style. On his return to Denmark his work became more classical, as is best seen in his cycles of paintings illustrating the Roman writers Terence and Apuleius (1802–4 and 1808–9 respectively, Statens Mus., Copenhagen). He became one of the leading figures in Danish art and had great influence as director of the Copenhagen Academy (1789–91 and 1801–9), where his pupils included Runge and Thorvaldsen. Abildgaard occasionally worked as an architect, sculptor, and designer, and he also wrote on art. His most ambitious work, a huge decorative scheme (1778–91) at Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, was largely destroyed by fire in 1794.

Abildgaard, Nicolai Abraham (1743–1809). Danish Neoclassical painter, mainly of historical, literary, and mythological subjects. He studied at the Copenhagen Academy and then from 1772 to 1777 in Rome, where his friendship with Fuseli helped to introduce Romantic elements to his style. On his return to Denmark his work became more classical, as is best seen in his cycles of paintings illustrating the Roman writers Terence and Apuleius (1802–4 and 1808–9 respectively, Statens Mus., Copenhagen). He became one of the leading figures in Danish art and had great influence as director of the Copenhagen Academy (1789–91 and 1801–9), where his pupils included Runge and Thorvaldsen. Abildgaard occasionally worked as an architect, sculptor, and designer, and he also wrote on art. His most ambitious work, a huge decorative scheme (1778–91) at Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, was largely destroyed by fire in 1794.