# Bertha Valerius

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Swedish photographer, artist (1824–1895)

Bertha Valerius Bertha Valerius, from the Svenskt Porträttgalleri Born Aurora Valeria Albertina Valerius (1824-01-21)21 January 1824 Stockholm, Sweden Died 24 March 1895(1895-03-24) (aged 71) Stockholm, Sweden Alma mater Royal Swedish Academy of Arts Known for Painting, Photography Style portraiture

Portrait of [Josephine of Leuchtenberg](/source/Josephine_of_Leuchtenberg)

**Aurora Valeria Albertina Valerius**, known as **Bertha** (21 January 1824, [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm) – 24 March 1895, Stockholm), was a Swedish photographer and painter.[1]

## Biography

Bertha Valerius was born to Chancellor [Johan David Valerius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johan_David_Valerius&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_David_Valerius)], a member of the [Swedish Academy](/source/Swedish_Academy), and Kristina Aurora Ingell. Her sister was the singer and painter Baroness [Adelaïde Leuhusen](/source/Adela%C3%AFde_Leuhusen).

Beginning in 1849, she studied at the [Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts](/source/Royal_Swedish_Academy_of_Fine_Arts) and received a scholarship to study in [Düsseldorf](/source/D%C3%BCsseldorf), [Dresden](/source/Dresden) and Paris. Upon her return, she entered a career as a portrait painter. In 1853 and 1856, she participated in exhibitions at the Academy. Later, she had the opportunity to accompany her sister and the opera singer [Christina Nilsson](/source/Christina_Nilsson) to Paris, acting as her chaperone. During her second stay in Paris, she became interested in photography and, upon her return in 1862, she opened her own studio in Stockholm; soon becoming one of Stockholm's most notable photographers.

In 1864, she was appointed official portrait artist of the Royal Court and produced 120 business cards for the Royal Family. At the exhibition in the [Kungsträdgården](/source/Kungstr%C3%A4dg%C3%A5rden) in 1866, she was awarded an honorary diploma. From 1868 to 1872, her studio was in the Hotel de la Croix in [Norrmalm](/source/Norrmalm). Sometime around 1880, she closed her studio and devoted herself to portrait painting. It was taken over by her colleague, the photographer [Selma Jacobsson](/source/Selma_Jacobsson), who was also appointed royal photographer, in 1899.

One of her most popular, and often reproduced, images shows Jesus as a petitioner at the [Edelweiss Chapel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edelweiss_Chapel&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelweissf%C3%B6rbundet)]. She was involved in numerous charitable causes and, although not wealthy, donated over 150,000 [Kronor](/source/Swedish_krona) to the needy over the course of her career.

Her works may be seen at the Royal Academy, [Uppsala University Library](/source/Uppsala_University_Library), the [Academy of Sciences](/source/Royal_Swedish_Academy_of_Sciences) and the [Linköpings museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Link%C3%B6pings_museum&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96sterg%C3%B6tlands_museum)].

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *[Svenskt konstnärslexikon](/source/Svenskt_konstn%C3%A4rslexikon)*, Part V, pg. 572, Allhems Förlag AB, 1953, Malmö.

## Further reading

- *[Svenskt konstnärslexikon](/source/Svenskt_konstn%C3%A4rslexikon)*, Part V, pg. 572, Allhems Förlag AB, 1953, Malmö.

- Dahlman, Eva: *Kvinnliga pionjärer, osynliga i fotohistorien*. [Text online](http://ojs.ub.gu.se/ojs/index.php/tgv/article/viewFile/1949/1718)

- Du Rietz, Anita, *Kvinnors entreprenörskap: under 400 år*, Dialogos, Stockholm, 2013

## External links

- [Biography and appreciation](http://www.ub.gu.se/fasta/laban/erez/kvinnohistoriska/tidskrifter/idun/1895/pdf/1895_15.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081708/http://www.ub.gu.se/fasta/laban/erez/kvinnohistoriska/tidskrifter/idun/1895/pdf/1895_15.pdf) 2014-04-07 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) from *[Idun](/source/Idun_(magazine))* @ the archives of the Göteborgs universitetsbibliotek

- [Biography](https://www.lexikonettamanda.se/show.php?aid=14228) @ the *Lexikonett Amanda*

- Media related to [Bertha Valerius](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bertha_Valerius) at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National Sweden Artists RKD Artists KulturNav Photographers' Identities

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bertha Valerius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Valerius) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Valerius?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.