# Carl Balsgaard

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**Carl Vilhelm Balsgaard** (24 December 1812, [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen) - 14 August 1893, Copenhagen) was a Danish painter; primarily of [still-lifes](/source/Still-life).

## Biography

His father was an accountant and auditor. He studied under [Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg](/source/Christoffer_Wilhelm_Eckersberg) at the [Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts](/source/Royal_Danish_Academy_of_Fine_Arts), with the intent of becoming a [figure painter](/source/Figure_painter), and won a small silver medal for live model drawing in 1841.[1]

However, in 1835, he had exhibited a series of still lifes and, when it became necessary to support himself by his work, he turned to painting fruits and flowers on porcelain.[1] In 1843, the year he was married, he competed for the [Neuhausenske Prize](/source/Neuhausenske_Prize) with a portrait of [Bertel Thorvaldsen](/source/Bertel_Thorvaldsen), but was unsuccessful.[2]

After that, he devoted most of his time to fruit and flower painting and, in 1855, received a grant from the Academy that would allow him to study abroad for two years. During that time, he visited [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Dresden](/source/Dresden), [Düsseldorf](/source/D%C3%BCsseldorf) and [Paris](/source/Paris).[1] After returning home in 1858, he was elected a member of the Academy.[2]

In 1864, he was appointed Inspector for the private art collection of King [Christian IX](/source/Christian_IX_of_Denmark) and gave art lessons to Queen [Louise](/source/Louise_of_Hesse-Kassel). The following year, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Academy's new professorship of decorative painting.[2]

In 1865, he applied for the post of Director of the Royal Art Collection (now the [National Gallery of Denmark](/source/National_Gallery_of_Denmark)), but the position went to [C.J. Thomsen](/source/Christian_J%C3%BCrgensen_Thomsen).[1] Two years later, as compensation, he was appointed a Professor at the Academy. His wife died the following year. To ease his grief, he travelled; notably to Italy from 1872 to 1873.[2]

He was appointed [Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog](/source/Order_of_the_Dannebrog) in 1892 and died the following year.

## References

1. [Biographical notes](https://www.kulturarv.dk/kid/VisKunstner.do?kunstnerId=461) @ Kunstindex Danmark.

1. [Brief biography](https://runeberg.org/dbl/1/0485.html) from the *Dansk Biografisk Lexikon* @ Project Runeberg.

## External links

- [Brief Biography](https://gravsted.dk/person.php?navn=carlbalsgaard) @ Gravsted
- [ArtNet: More works by Balsgaard](http://www.artnet.com/artists/carl-vilhelm-balsgaard/past-auction-results); mostly still lifes.

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