Julius Middelthun

Bust of Johan Sebastian Welhaven (1867) by Julius Middelthun

Julius Olavus Middelthun (3 July 1820 – 5 May 1886) was a Norwegian sculptor born in Kongsberg, son of a coin engraver. As a young man he trained as a goldsmith before moving to Copenhagen to study with Bissen. His ten years there were followed by eight years in Rome, after which time he returned to Norway. He is best remembered for his portraits.^[1]

Middlethun taught at Royal School of Art and Design of Christiana where one of his students was Edvard Munch,^[2] who painted the famous painting The Scream.

Works

• Bust of Henrik Wergeland, Christiania c. 1860
• Bust of Johan Sebastian Welhaven, 1867`
• Bronze bust of Halfdan Kjerulf, Christiania, after 1860
• Statue of Anton Martin Schweigaard 1883
• Bust of Jakob Aall, National Gallery

References

1. Laurin, Hannover, Thiis, Scandinavian Art", Benjamin Blom, New York, 1968 p. 619-622
2. Skard, Sigmund, ‘’Classical Tradition in Norway’’, Universitetsforlagt, Oslo, 1980 p. 138