This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Johann Berthelsen immigrated to the
United States in 1889. He studied music and voice at the Chicago
Musical College and toured as a lead baritone for the Grand Opera
Company. He gave voice lessons in his private studio and at the
Indianapolis Conservatory.
It was only in 1932 that he started
painting on a full-time basis, first in pastels and later in
oils. New York's Central Park was his main source of inspiration,
although he also painted small and colorful still lives.
Submitted by Harrie Grondijs who credits http://www.sothebys.com
|
These Notes from AskART represent the beginning of a possible future biography for this artist. Please click here if you wish to help in its development:
|  Note from Carole Laverty, grand daughter of the artist:
Johann Berthelsen died April 3, 1972. |
Biography from Abby M. Taylor, Fine Art:
| A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Johann Berthelsen was six when his family
immigrated to the United States in 1889. When he was 18,
Berthelsen studied music and voice for four years at the Chicago
Musical College.
Following his graduation, he toured the United States
and Canada as lead baritone for the Grand Opera Company, after which he
taught voice – first as his alma matter and then at the Indianapolis
Conservatory of Music. In 1920, Berthelsen opened a private studio in
New York City where he gave voice lessons. Although, he devoted most of
his time to singing and music, Berthelsen painted – at first for his
own pleasure and then, after 1932, on a full-time basis. His work was
judged “poetic” by contemporary critics. It is fascinating when people
are good at what they do… but to master more than one art is quite
incredible. The same poetry of music is beautifully represented in his
paintings.
Johann Berthelsen’s paintings of New York City arehis signature works. The combination of bright colors of urban life
with flickering snowfall and the city’s massive architecture are
tremendously successful examples of the genre. Initially, Berthelsen
established his artistic reputation with his work in pastels, but
having achieved success as a pastelist, he then turned his attention to
oils.
The fundamentals of drawing were necessary in order to discover a
technique appropriate to working in oil, and Berthelsen used a heavy
impasto to render his city and park snow scenes. Working with small
canvases, he found inspiration in New York’s Central Park, rendering
this setting most effectively in its seasonal transformations. He
painted similar scenes of Chicago.
Reputedly, Berthelsen was a friend
of Guy Wiggins, and their snow scenes have much in common with each
other.
Memberships:
Salmagundi Club
American Watercolor Society
Allied American Artists
Collections:
Sembrich Memorial Museum, Lake George, NY
Terre Haute Museum, Indiana
Wake Forest College, North Carolina |
Biography from Roughton Galleries,Inc:
|  Johann Berthelsen painted landscapes of New York City ''poetic''
by contemporary critics. Ironically though, it was music not art,
to which Berthelsen originally aspired to.
A native of
Copenhagen, Denmark, Berthelsen was six when his family immigrated to
the United States in 1889. When he was 18, Berthelsen studied
music and voice for four years at the Chicago Musical College.
Following this graduation, he toured the United Slates and Canada as
lead baritone for the Grand Opera Company, after which he taught voice,
first at his alma mater and then at the Indianapolis Conservatory or
Music. In 1920, Berthelsen opened a private studio in New York
City where he gave voice lessons.
Although he devoted most of
his time to singing and music, Berthelsen painted first for his own
pleasure and then, after 1932, on a full-time basis. Berthelsen
initially established his artistic reputation with his work in
pastels. Working with small canvases, he found inspiration in New
York's Central Park, rendering this subject most effectively in its
seasonal transformations.
He painted similar scenes in and of
Chicago, and they also met with critical and popular acclaim.
Having achieved success as a pastelist, Berthelsen turned his attention
to oils. He returned to the fundamentals of drawing in order to
discover a technique appropriate to the medium. Berthelsen used a
heavy impasto to almost palpably render his landscapes and his city and
park snowscapes. Berthelsen also painted still-lives. Unlike his
landscapes, these works again on small canvases-are clearly defined,
with his colors ranging from bright to low key.
Berthelsen died in 1972. |
Biography from Butler Institute of American Art:
| Johann Berthelsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on July 25,
1883. He was a member of the Salmagundi Club, the American
Watercolor Society, and the Allied Artists of America.
He exhibited widely and was the recipient of numerous awards including
the Erskine Prize in 1928 in Chicago and in 1946, in Indianapolis, the
Holcombe Prize.
Known for his scenes of city streets in New York, he usually did
paintings in pairs and is best known for his New York winter scenes. |
| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|