Svend Hammershøj

Svend Hammershoj (1873-1948)

Danish Painter and Ceramicist

(alternative spelling “Hammershøi”)

Svend Hammershoj was born in Frederiksberg to a family of wealthy merchants. From an early age he showed a penchant for ceramics, receiving his initial training at the Frederiksberg Technical Society School in 1889, eventually matriculating to their Academy in 1890. Throughout the 1890s, Hammershoj studied under many of Denmark’s artistic luminaries, including Holger Grønvold, the painter Kristian Zahrtmann, Vilhelm Bissen, and his older brother Vilhelm Hammershoj, a renowned artist in his own right.

It was during his study with Zahrtmann, that Hammershoj met Aage Bertelsen, who in turn brought the young ceramist in contact with Herman A. Kähler, who operated a ceramics workshop in Næstved. Hammershoj designed for Kähler Studios for many years, and it is this work, along with his landscape paintings, for which the artist is most remembered today.

Hammershoj exhibited widely during his lifetime, including at the Charlottenborg Art Association, the Danish Art and Design Fair, the Free Exhibitions, at the Royal Institute of British Architects, and the Royal Academy London. He participated in the 1925 World Exhibition in Paris, where he won the gold medal. Today the artist’s works can be found in numerous prestigious collections, including the Danish National Gallery of Art, the National Gallery in Oslo, the Randers Museum of Art, the Museum of Koldinghus, and Orddrupgaard.

Hammershoj was named a Knight of the Dannebrog in 1925 and Dannebrogsmand 1931.

The artist died in 1948 and is buried at the Solbjerg Park Cemetery.