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Painter Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876 - 1958)
As in the case of the Nordal portrait, Ólafsson began by making a portrait of Ásgrímur Jónsson in clay, to be cast in bronze. Both versions of this portrait were undertaken on Ólafsson's own initiative. The sculptor would undoubtedly have wanted to honour his mentor from his earliest years in Reykjavík, 1923 - 26. Ásgrímur Jónsson had also studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen (1900-1903), and for four years afterwards he also spent his winters in Copenhagen. He was especially influenced by the French Impressionists and van Gogh, whose work he had encountered during trips to France, Southern Germany and Italy. Eventually he became one of the forerunners of Modernism in Iceland. In 1953 the painter bequeathed all works in his possession to the Icelandic nation. Sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson and his Portraits Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum 2008, ISBN 978-87-88755-05-03 |