Adam August Müller

Adam August Müller (16 August 1811 – 15 March 1844), a Danish history painter, was one of Eckersberg's favourite students. Generally unhealthy and dead at 32, his work is recognized as an important component in Danish art. His favourite subjects were historical and religious themes.[1]

Adam Müller (1844); after a painting by Johan Vilhelm Gertner

Biography

A son of Bishop Peter Erasmus Müller (1776-1834), he was born in Copenhagen. In 1825, he became a student of Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1783– 1853) at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, joining the Model School in 1828. The following year, he exhibited Aladdin, staaende bag Pillen, ser Gulnare ("Aladdin, standing behind a pillar, sees Gulnare") and the following year exhibited a number of portraits, two of which were purchased for the Royal Collection.[2] [3]

He was awarded a silver medal in 1833 and the gold medal in 1836.[4]

In 1838, he competed with Heinrich Eddelien for a scholarship to Italy. Eddelein prevailed but, thanks to the intercession of Bertel Thorvaldsen, Müller received some travel money as well. In 1839, he went to Italy after a short stay in Munich. His studies of Florentine painting encouraged him to adopt a new approach to religious painting, emulating the old Italian style. This earned him the Thorvaldsen Medal for "Christ Blesses the Four Evangelists", painted in 1843 after he had returned to Denmark.[5]

He had only just recovered from a serious illness when he went to Italy and was frequently ill while there. After his return to Copenhagen, his health deteriorated and he died there, leaving several unfinished commissions.[3]

Selected works
  • Aladdin, staaende bag Pillen, ser Gulnare (1829)
  • Aladdin griber imellem andre drenge efter de nedkastede pommeranser (1831)
  • Landskab med en hvilende jæger (1832)
  • Den Saarede Herluf Trolle, som modtages af sin Hustru og af Skolens Disciple paa Herlufsholm (1832)
  • Flugten til Ægypten (1833)
  • Brystbillede af en ældre mand (1834)
  • Christus prædiker fra Skibet, altarpiece (1834)
  • Odysseus kommer til Nausikae (1835)
  • Valdemar Sejer i Fængsel (1836)
  • David opmuntrer Saul ved sit Harpespil (1838)
  • Christus giver sig til Kjende for Disciplene i Emmaus (1838)
  • Christus velsigner de 4 Evangelister (1842)
  • Den fortabte Søns Hjemkomst (1843)

References
  1. "C. W. Eckersberg og hans elever", Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, 1983, p. 124.
  2. A. Jantzen. "Müller, Peter Erasmus, 1776-1834". Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. Philip Weilbach. Müller, Adam August, 1811-44 Dansk biografisk leksikon, Vol 11, p. 565, C. F. Bricka, Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1887–1905.
  4. Jens Peter Munk. "Adam Müller". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  5. "Adam August Müller". Nordisk familjebok. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

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