Johann Berthelsen
American, 1883 - 1972
Johann Berthelsen painted exquisitely rendered landscapes of New York City, judged "poetic" by contemporary critics. Ironically, it was music not art, to which Berthelsen originally aspired.
A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Berthelsen was six when his family immigrated to the United States in 1889. At the age of 18, He entered the Chicago Musical College as a four-year free scholarship student in the art of singing and general music. Following his graduation, Berthelsen toured the United Slates and Canada as lead baritone for the Grand Opera Company in English. After five years of his operatic work, he returned to his alma mater as a member of the vocal faculty for three years, after which he accepted the position as head of the Voice department at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music where he remained for six years. In 1920, Berthelsen opened a private studio in New York City where he gave voice lessons.
In the years that Berthelsen devoted his time to singing and music, he also found time to paint for his own pleasure. In 1932, he would leave his music career to focus on his passion to paint on a full-time basis.
Berthelsen initially established his artistic reputation with his work in pastels. Having achieved success as a pastelist, Berthelsen turned his attention to oils. Working with small canvases, he found inspiration in New York's Central Park, the East River and the city's streets. New York City's views were an inexhaustible subject for his wonderful poetic paintings and pastels. His most popular subject became the New York City's buildings as seen through the veil of a light snow-storm. Little Church Around the Corner and Old Trinity, Wall Street are among his most successful snow scenes. Berthelsen also painted nocturnes where the city's imposing structures rise out of the midnight mist or an early morning rain.
Berthelsen was a member of the American Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, and the Salmagundi Club. From 1940 to 1942, he was a member of the Lecture Bureau of the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Berthelsen died in New York city in 1972.
Public Collections:
Terre Haute Museum, Indiana
Wake Forest College, North Carolina
Listed: Allied Artists of America
American Watercolor Society Salmagundi Club
Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton
A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Berthelsen was six when his family immigrated to the United States in 1889. At the age of 18, He entered the Chicago Musical College as a four-year free scholarship student in the art of singing and general music. Following his graduation, Berthelsen toured the United Slates and Canada as lead baritone for the Grand Opera Company in English. After five years of his operatic work, he returned to his alma mater as a member of the vocal faculty for three years, after which he accepted the position as head of the Voice department at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music where he remained for six years. In 1920, Berthelsen opened a private studio in New York City where he gave voice lessons.
In the years that Berthelsen devoted his time to singing and music, he also found time to paint for his own pleasure. In 1932, he would leave his music career to focus on his passion to paint on a full-time basis.
Berthelsen initially established his artistic reputation with his work in pastels. Having achieved success as a pastelist, Berthelsen turned his attention to oils. Working with small canvases, he found inspiration in New York's Central Park, the East River and the city's streets. New York City's views were an inexhaustible subject for his wonderful poetic paintings and pastels. His most popular subject became the New York City's buildings as seen through the veil of a light snow-storm. Little Church Around the Corner and Old Trinity, Wall Street are among his most successful snow scenes. Berthelsen also painted nocturnes where the city's imposing structures rise out of the midnight mist or an early morning rain.
Berthelsen was a member of the American Watercolor Society, Allied Artists of America, and the Salmagundi Club. From 1940 to 1942, he was a member of the Lecture Bureau of the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Berthelsen died in New York city in 1972.
Public Collections:
Terre Haute Museum, Indiana
Wake Forest College, North Carolina
Listed: Allied Artists of America
American Watercolor Society Salmagundi Club
Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton
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