Hans Fredrik Gude Norwegian, 1825-1903

Acquired by the father of the present owner in the 1930s; thence by descent

Originally a pupil of Johanes Flintoe, Gude, like many of his peers, moved to Düsseldorf in 1841 to study under Andreas Achenbach and the historical landscapist J.W. Schirmer. Subsequently appointed an assistant teacher in Schirmer's studio, he succeeded his master as Professor of Landscape Painting both at the Düsseldorf Academy (1854-62) and in Karlsruhe (1864-80).

With Adolph Tidemand (lot 305), Gude dominated the colony of Norwegian artists who studied in Düsseldorf in the mid-nineteenth century, informing the work of such painters as Frits Thaulow (lots 310, 326, 330, 342, 344, 347). On several occasions Gude and Tidemand collaborated to produce monumental images of life in the fjords.