Anne Grimdalen

Anne Grimdalen
Anne Grimdalen in 1949
Born	(1899-11-01)1 November 1899 Skafså,Norway
Died	3 October 1961(1961-10-03)(aged 61)
Nationality	Norwegian
Occupation	Sculptor

On the westside wall of Oslo City Hall is Grimdalen's equestrian statue ofHarald III of Norway(1950)

Anne Grimdalen(1 November 1899 – 3 October 1961) was aNorwegiansculptor. She was born on the mountain farm Grimdalen inSkafså,Telemark,and later also lived and worked in the so-calledKunstnerdaleninAsker.She worked mainly with granite, and also bronze. She is represented at theNational Gallery of Norway,and was one of the main contributors to the decorations ofOslo City Hall.

Education

Grimdalen studied at theNorwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industryfrom 1923 to 1926, at theNorwegian National Academy of Fine Arts(1927–1929) under Wilhelm Rasmussen, and inCopenhagenunderEinar Utzon-Frank.She made study travels to Italy (1933–34), Greece (1935), Paris and Italy (1938), and London (1947). Two of her inspirators were the paintersHenrik SørensenandOtto Valstad.

Museum

The art museumGrimdalstunetwas later (in 1965) built at her home farm Grimdalen in Skafså (now withinTokkemunicipality), and contains a collection of more than 250 of her sculptures.The mountain farm itself is also a museum, with buildings from the time of barter economy in the 17th century.

Works

Grimdalen is especially known for her many animal sculptures, made in a simplistic style, often ingranite,such asGaupe(Lynx, 1928),Bjørn(Bear, 1933). She made several contributions to the decoration ofOslo City Hall,after surprisingly winning the decoration contest in 1938,such asTømmerfløtere(Log drivers) andDyrefontene(Animal fountain), and the large equestrian statue ofHarald IIIon the west wall (1938–1950). A relief of psalmistMagnus Brostrup Landstad(1951) is placed outside the church ofSeljord.

Later works are the monuments ofAnders Hovden(1958,Ørsta),Audun Hugleiksson(1959,Jølster) andHåkon den Gode(1961,Fitjar). She is represented at theNational Gallery of Norway(Jenta på hesten,Riding girl, bronze, 1931).

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  Two small playing bears (1956) Rotterdam