Eiler Rasmussen Eilersen

Rasmussen Eilersen was born at Østerby, Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, Denmark. His father, Rasmus Eilersen (1788-1869), was a farmer and the local parish constable (sognefoged).[2]

Like many future artists, he displayed an early affinity for drawing. Once he had decided on a career as an artist, he obtained the support of Preben Bille-Brahe (1773-1857), a local landowner and philanthropist who was later appointed a Royal Privy Councillor.[2] Bille-Brahe's son, Christian Bille-Brahe (1819-1899), who would become a government official, was a major patron of Eilersen's work .[3][4]

He took his first formal lessons in Faaborg then, in 1847, went to Copenhagen to pursue his plans for becoming a landscape painter. The outbreak of the First Schleswig War interrupted his plans, however, when he was drafted into the army.[2] He served for two years, then resumed his studies. He began exhibiting almost immediately, under the name "Rasmussen". [1]

In 1858, after much effort, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts awarded him a travel scholarship. This enabled him and his wife to visit Paris, the Pyrenees and Switzerland. In 1871, he became a member of the Academy.[2] He participated in numerous exhibitions abroad, including the Exposition Universelle (1889).

He was married in 1856 to Eleanor Vinning (1825-1899), whom he had met in Faaborg. He died in Copenhagen during 1912.[1]

Media related to Eiler Rasmussen Eilersen at Wikimedia Commons