Nationality Danish Known for Painting | Movement Danish Golden Age Name Georg Hilker | |
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Born 5 June 1807 ( 1807-06-05 ) Copenhagen, Denmark Died January 13, 1875, Copenhagen, Denmark Education Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts | ||
Georg Hilker (5 June 1807 – 13 January 1875) was a Danish decorative painter active during the Danish Golden Age in the first half of the 19th century. He collaborated with Constantin Hansen.
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Early life and career
Hilker was born to navigator Christian Hilker and Marie Margrethe née Vest. When 13 years old, he began his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. After first training to become a landscape painter and winning both silver medals at the model school, Hilker turned to decorative painting. Still a student, he participated in the decoration of the professorial residence of sculptor Hermann Ernst Freund in the former Supply Building on Slotsholmen. There he was introduced to the Pompeian Styles which was to characterize much of his later work. He also worked on other prominent projects, including the decoration of Christiansborg and Amalienborg Palaces.
Italy, 1838–41
In 1838, Hilker traveled to Rome. This gave him the opportunity to study Pompeian art and Raphael's works at the Vatican. He also went to Naples and Capri where he lived and worked with fellow Danish painters Christen Købke, Constantin Hansen and Jørgen Roed.
Back in Denmark
Back in Denmark in 1841, Hilker commenced a collaboration with Constantin Hansen. One of their most important assignments was the decoration of the vestibule of the new main building for the University of Copenhagen from 1844 to 1853. Among his many other works are the decoration of rooms in Thorvaldsens Museum, Sorø Academy and Herlufsholm School.