{{Short description|Danish sculptor (1902-82)}} [[File:Shadow of Gottfred Eickhoff's Guapa on the wall of Thorvaldsens Museum.JPG|thumb|The shadow of Eickhoff's sculpture ''Guapa'' on the wall of Thorvaldsens Museum, 2016.]] '''Gottfred Eickhoff''' (11 April 1902 in Frederiksberg – 26 July 1982) was a Danish sculptor. Inspired by French trends, his work contrasted with that of his predecessors, exhibiting a spirit of harmony, peace and balance.
==Early life== After matriculating from high school in 1920, Eickhoff embarked on law studies but changed paths in 1926 when he became a pupil of Harald Giersing. Realizing he would now concentrate on sculpture, he continued his studies in Paris from 1927 to 1933 under Charles Despiau, associating with a wide range of sculptors including Jean Osouf and Paul Cornet from France, Charles Leplae from Belgium, Han Wezelaar from the Netherlands, Bror Hjorth from Sweden and Adam Fischer and Astrid Noack from Denmark.<ref name=DBL>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Kunst_og_kultur/Billedkunst/Billedhugger/Gottfred_Eickhoff?highlight=Gottfred%20Eickhoff "Gottfred Eickhoff"], ''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 28 May 2012.</ref>
==Career== In 1933, he exhibited with the Grønningen artists, becoming a member of the association in 1935. His works immediately attracted considerable interest: his busts ''Kvindehoved. Merete Bodelsen'' (limestone, 1931) and ''Gerda'' (clay, 1932) were acquired by Statens Museum for Kunst and the Carlsberg Foundation. He received a stipendium from the foundation allowing him to make an extended tour of Italy, Greece, Egypt and Turkey in 1936. His works from this period follow the French trends of Aristide Maillol and Charles Despiau, contrasting with Danish designs. Works from this period include ''Marseillepiger'' (limestone, 1935), ''Corfupige'' (bronze, 1939) and ''Roepiger'' (bronze, 1939) which now stands on the market place in Sakskøbing. His bronze female figure ''Guapa'' can be seen outside the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen.<ref name=DBL/>
After the war, he travelled to Italy, Spain and Morocco before becoming a professor at the Danish Academy in 1954. He frequently sketched during his travels, producing such prized works as a drawing of a cow deprived of its calf in San Cataldo (1952) and of a shop in Zauen, Morocco (1953). His drawings demonstrate his skills at light and shade, reminiscent of Goya and Rembrandt. Later in life, he used his drawings as a basis for sculpted works.<ref name=DBL/>
==Style==
His sculptures are modelled with harmony, peace and balance, based on nature as a precondition. They contrast with those of previous generations, differing from the exuberance of Kai Nielsen and the ornamentation of Johannes Bjerg and Einar Utzon-Frank. Many of his works have been carefully reproduced in various sizes.<ref name=Weilbach>[https://www.kulturarv.dk/kid/VisWeilbach.do?kunstnerId=39&wsektion=alle Dorthe Falcon Møller, "Gottfred Eickhoff"], ''Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 28 May 2012.</ref>
==Selected works== ;Public art * ''Mother With Cjild''m Præstø, Denmark (1972) * ''Rycho Brahe'', Børre Allé, Copenhagen, Denmark
==Awards== Eickhoff received the Eckersberg Medal in 1944 and the Thorvaldsen Medal in 1976.<ref name=Weilbach/> ==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control (arts)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eickhoff, Gottfred}} Category:1902 births Category:1982 deaths Category:Artists from Frederiksberg Category:Recipients of the Eckersberg Medal Category:Recipients of the Thorvaldsen Medal Category:20th-century Danish sculptors Category:Danish male sculptors Category:20th-century Danish male artists