In 1852, .. .. began to study at the Düsseldorf Academy of arts under Hans Gude. Two years later he began to appear obvious signs of schizophrenia, and he was forced to leave the Academy and return to Norway, in the vicinity of Stavanger. In the future all his life he suffered from mental illness. Treatment in the Mediterranean, which he undertook, did not help, and in October 1856 he was admitted to a psychiatric clinic Gaustad in Oslo. The treatment was unsuccessful, and the last 30 years of his life he lived almost in poverty, he did not have enough money for canvases, so he was forced to work with gouache and watercolor. In some works, he even put the paper in several layers, mimicking the canvas. The artist died in the charity house in Stavanger. During his lifetime he was virtually unknown. The first big exhibition featuring his works was held in 1914, 12 years after his death.
Landscapes of .. .. use real types about Stavanger, fjords, cliffs and pine trees. However, rocks and trees in his landscapes take fantastic shapes, particularly after 1860-ies. Rocks and clouds, often very well drawn, scenery is typical of blue sky.
The .. .. is devoted to a novel by the Norwegian writer Jon Fosse "Melancholy" (Melancholia I, 1995)[2].
In Stavanger preserved artist's house, named in his honor the street and the square
- Artworks in 2 selections
