VILHELM MELBYE
 Danish 1824-1882

Biography

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Vilhelm Melbye (Danish 1824-1882) 'Steam Frigate 'Sjaelland' In High Seas'
Vilhelm Melbye (Danish 1824-1882) 'Steam Frigate 'Sjaelland' In High Seas'

Vilhelm Melbye (Danish 1824-1882)

Steam Frigate 'Sjaelland' in High Seas

oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left "Villhelm Melbye 1874". Depicts the Danish auxiliary steam frigate 'Sjaelland' cruising under shortened sail before a strong breeze and following seas.

Provenance Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Ray, California

This stunning work by renowned Danish marine artist Vilhelm Melbye depicts the famous steam frigate Sjaelland, known for its part in the naval battle of Jasmund during the Second Schleswig War on March 17, 1864. She was the middle of three sister ships, the Niels Juel, Sjaelland, and Jylland which were sail and screw propelled steam frigates as well as sailing ships, the world’s largest wooden war ships. Fregatten Jylland is preserved today as a museum in Ebeltoft, Denmark and considered a national treasure.

Vilhelm Melbye is one of Denmark’s most celebrated marine artists, the middle and best known of the three artistic brothers Anton, Vilhelm and Fritz. His early work produced in Copenhagen before travelling abroad consists mainly of views around the city harbours and the surrounding fishing villages, and he was one of the first artists to paint the coastal area of Skagen at the northern tip of Jutland. He preferred a realistic style, often depicting romantic or dramatic scenes. Studying at the Danish Royal Academy in Copenhagen from 1844 to 1847, Vilhelm took lessons under his elder brother Anton as well as private classes in perspective drawing from the Carl Dahl. He travelled extensively abroad travelling to London, Dusseldorf, Paris, the Netherlands and throughout the Mediterranean, and was influenced by the Dusseldorf School. He lived and worked in London where he anglicized his signature to ‘Wilhelm Melby’ and there are numerous depictions of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean from this time. He exhibited regularly at the Danish Royal Academy, becoming a Professor and head of the Academy in 1880. Vilhelm Melbye’s romantic and realistic style is successful at offering dramatic depictions of shipwrecks and adventures at sea. Examples of his work can be found in public and private collections internationally, including the National Gallery of Canada.
Size: 42 ¾ x 66 ¼ in (with frame 54 ¼ x 80 ¼ in)
ZJ19886

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Knud Frederik Vilhelm Hannibal Melbye was born in Elsinore, Denmark in 1824. He is the middle and best known of three artistic brothers Anton, Vilhelm and Fritz. Anton and Fritz painted with Camille Pissarro, Fritz having a significant impact on the artistic beginnings of Pissarro. Vilhelm Melbye studied at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen from 1844 to 1847 under his elder brother Anton, and also took private classes in perspective drawing from the artist Carl Dahl. His early work produced in Copenhagen before travelling abroad consists mainly of views around the city harbours and the surrounding fishing villages, and he was one of the first artists to paint the coastal area of Skagen at the northern tip of Jutland in Denmark. He preferred a realistic style, often with romantic or dramatic scenes.

Melbye’s first journey in 1847 took him to Iceland aboard the corvette Valkyrien. His travels abroad included London, Dusseldorf, Paris, the Netherlands, and throughout the Mediterranean, and he was influenced by the Dusseldorf School. As he matured as an artist he became focused on marine painting, depicting the North and Black Seas through the late 1840’s and exhibiting regularly at the Danish Royal Academy at Charlottenborg in Copenhagen. He lived and worked in London where he anglicized his signature to ‘Wilhelm Melby’. There are numerous paintings of Gibraltar and the Italian Mediterranean by Melbye dating from 1854-62, with British Subjects reappearing in the 1860’s.

Vilhelm Melbye’s romantic and realistic style is successful at offering dramatic depictions of shipwrecks and adventures at sea. He was a Professor at the Academy of Art in Copenhagen and in 1880 became head of the Academy. Melbye died in Roskilde in 1882. Examples of his work can be found in public and private collections internationally including the National Gallery of Canada.