Bertha Wegmann was one of the first women in Denmark to push her way into the country’s art establishment and stay there. She worked with purpose, often against resistance, and left behind a body of work that still draws attention in Danish museums today. If you’re looking for a straightforward example of talent matched with quiet defiance, Wegmann’s career is worth more than a glance.
Early Life
Bertha Wegmann was born in Soglio, Switzerland, in 1847. Her family moved to Copenhagen when she was five, and though she wasn’t Danish by birth, she grew up in the capital and made it her artistic and professional home. Her father, an engineer, and her mother, who valued culture and education, encouraged her early interest in painting. She started with drawing, like many children do, but kept going long after others stopped.
Formal art education was limited for girls in the mid-19th century, but Wegmann began training seriously as a teenager. She studied privately, then enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Though the Academy admitted women, it didn’t make room for them. The expectations were lower. The support, minimal. Wegmann ignored all of it.
In 1871, she left Denmark for Munich, then a growing hub for artists. There she studied under painters like Eduard Kurzbauer and Wilhelm von Lindenschmit the Younger, absorbing the techniques of the Munich School while developing her own voice. She met and worked closely with the Swedish painter Jeanna Bauck. The two shared a studio, traveled, and painted each other. Wegmann’s portrait of Jeanna Bauck remains one of her best-known works.
Munich exposed her to Realism and early Impressionism, which both found their way into her style. She didn’t commit fully to either. What mattered to Wegmann was capturing a subject honestly, whether it was a woman in a domestic interior or a physician seated formally for a portrait.
Career Highlights of the Danish Artist
Wegmann returned to Denmark in the 1870s with confidence and a growing portfolio. Her first major showing came in 1873 at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition in Copenhagen. From then on, she was part of the Danish art scene.
Her big breakthrough came in 1881, when she won the Neuhausenske Prize for portraiture. Two years later, she became the first woman ever to receive the Thorvaldsen Medal—Denmark’s highest honor for an artist. That same year, she completed a portrait of the physician Emil Hornemann, a work that secured her reputation as one of Denmark’s finest portrait painters.
By the 1880s, Wegmann’s name had gained weight. She was no longer just a Danish painter, but a known figure across Europe. She exhibited in Paris, Berlin, and elsewhere, showing still lifes, interiors, and portraits. Her style stayed grounded in realism but softened with impressionistic touches. She had a strong eye for composition, often painting her subjects with minimal background noise, giving attention instead to fabric textures, body language, and facial expression.
In 1892, she became the first woman to hold a chair at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. This position that let her push for more visibility and support for female artists. She also mentored younger women and made real contributions to curriculum and exhibition planning.
Conclusion and FAQs About Bertha Wegmann
Conclusion
Wegmann painted well into the 20th century. Her later works, though quieter, still showed technical precision and emotional restraint, and still life scenes. She died in 1926, having lived through a period that saw women slowly begin to take up space in Danish cultural life.
Today, her paintings hang in major collections, including the National Gallery of Denmark and the Hirschsprung Collection. They’re often shown in the context of Danish Golden Age art and 19th-century realism.
Summary
- Portrait focus: Swiss-born and Danish-trained, Wegmann became best known for her compelling portraits.
- Artistic training: She studied in Copenhagen and Munich, often working alongside close friend Jeanna Bauck.
- Early acclaim: Wegmann won the Neuhausenske Prize in 1881 and the Thorvaldsen Medal in 1883.
- Historic role: She was the first woman to hold a chair at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
- Lasting legacy: Her portraits, still lifes, and interiors remain in major Danish collections today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bertha Wegmann
1. When was artist Bertha Wegmann active, and what is she best known for?
Bertha Wegmann (1847–1926) was a Danish painter celebrated for her expressive portrait work and her quiet influence on the Danish art scene, especially during a time when few women held artistic authority.
2. What kind of art did Wegmann create? Was she focused on a specific genre?
Wegmann worked across several genres, but she’s most recognized for her portraits, still lifes, and domestic scenes. She also painted the occasional landscape, often rendered in a subtle, observational style.
3. Did Wegmann ever paint any notable family portraits?
Yes. One of her best-known works is a portrait of her sister, painted with intimacy and technical precision. It’s still cited today as a standout example of 19th-century Danish portraiture.
4. Where did Wegmann exhibit her work during her career?
Wegmann exhibited widely in Europe, including at the Salon in Paris and the Charlottenborg Palace in Copenhagen, where her work often received national acclaim.
5. Are any of her paintings currently displayed in an art museum?
Yes, many of her works are housed in prominent Danish institutions, including the National Gallery of Denmark and the Hirschsprung Collection—making them must-visits for any art lover.
6. Was Bertha Wegmann connected to any other Danish artists of her time?
She studied with artists like Heinrich Buntzen and Frederik Ferdinand Helsted early in her career. Buntzen and Frederik Christian Lund were both significant figures in Danish art and helped shape her early direction.
7. Did Wegmann ever paint still lifes, like flowers?
She did. One particularly striking piece is “Wild Flowers in a Glass Vase,” a painting of bunch of wild flowers that doubles as a quiet study in tone, texture, and subtle color. It’s a fine example of her attention to detail and restraint.
8. What materials did Wegmann typically use?
She worked primarily in oil on canvas, using a delicate hand and a refined palette that leaned toward realism with occasional impressionist touches.
9. Are any of Wegmann’s works available as a print or reproduction?
Yes, several of her paintings have been made available as prints through online galleries and museum shops, especially her more iconic works.
10. Do Wegmann’s paintings ever come up at auction?
They do. In fact, auction prices for her work have risen in recent years, signaling renewed interest. Some auction results show strong demand for her portraits and flower paintings in particular.
11. When did Wegmann move back to Denmark after studying abroad?
Wegmann moved back to Copenhagen in the 1870s after several years in Munich, bringing with her a more refined technique and European perspective.
12. Is Wegmann considered a major figure in Danish art history?
Absolutely. As a Danish painter and one of the first women to gain institutional respect, she remains an important figure in both feminist and art historical circles. Her career helped open doors for women in fine art across Scandinavia.
