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Sculptor Johannes C. Bjerg (1886 - 1955)
This portrait bust, as well as another one in plaster (LSÓ 1046) were both done on Ólafsson's own initiative. The artist gave the plaster version to Mrs Minna Bjerg in 1956. During the 1930s Sigurjón Ólafsson had a strong connection to the Sculptors' School at Charlottenborg, not least through his work for professor Utzon-Frank, whose assistant he was. He also aided professor Bjerg in his modelling of the sculpture Agnete and the merman, which is confirmed by a letter written to his brother Guðni, dated 7.12.1937. In it he apologizes for not writing a long letter for Christmas: "...because I am so busy at the moment. I am working for the sculptor Johs. C. Bjerg every day from five in the afternoon until ten or eleven at night, and by that time I am exhausted, as you can imagine." In the light of the coolness that characterized the relations between the two rival sculptors, Bjerg and Utzon-Frank, it is interesting that Ólafsson should take on this portrait, and rather two than one. Undoubtedly Ólafsson was inspired by Bjerg's rugged features and forceful personality. Sculptor Tove Ólafsson, Ólafsson's wife at the time, has said that the clay version had dried up while they were on holiday, thus Ólafsson had decided to have it fired, even if it wasn't completed to his satisfaction. He never hid the fact that it was Utzon-Frank who used his influence to have the purchasing committee buy this bust for the Danish National Gallery. Sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson and his Portraits Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum 2008, ISBN 978-87-88755-05-03 |