Achton Friis

Achton Friis

Achton Friis photographed on the Denmark Expedition to Greenland
Born Johannes Achton Friis
(1871-09-05)September 5, 1871
Trustrup, Denmark
Died December 17, 1939(1939-12-17) (aged 68)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality Danish
Education Royal Danish Academy of Art
Known for Painting
Awards Medal of Merit

Achton Friis (5 September 1871 - 17 December 1939) was a Danish illustrator, painter and writer. He participated on the Danish Expedition to Northeast Greenland in 190608 from where he created a large number of works, both landscape paintings and portraits, as well as a Written account which was published in 1909. He later published several published several comprehensive and richly illustrated works with descriptions of the nature and cultural history of different oparts of Denmark. He has also created decorative works for the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain manufacturer.

Early life and education

Friis was born in Trustrup on the Fjursland peninsula in 1871. He attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen from 1895-99. He learned etching techniques from Carl Locher in 1900-01.[1]

Danish Expedition to Greenland, 1906-08

The edpedition ship 'Denmark' at sunset painted by Friis in early 1907

In 1906-08, Friis participated in the Denmark Expedition to northeastern Greenland. His works included oil paintings of landscapes as well as numerous portraits.

A portrait of Ludvig Mylius-Erichsen, the expedition's leader, who died died on it

Friis' works from the expedition included both landscape paintings and numerous portraits, both of expedition members and local Inuit. Another artist, Aage Bertelsen, was also a member of the expedition. Friis' and Bertelsen's works from the Denmark Expedition was featured in an exhibition at the Rudolph Tegner Museum in 2911.[2]

Friis also wrote the official travel account from the edpedition, Danmark Ekspeditionen til Grønlands Nordøstkyst, which was published in 1909 and reissued in 2005. Friis and Aage Bertelsen's works from the Denmark Expedition was featured in an exhibition at the Rudolph Tegner Museum in 2011.[2] A comprehensive excreact from Friis' and Bertelsen's diaries was published in 2013.[3]

"Land of the Danes"

In the 1920s and 1930s, Friis published three comprehensive wrols with descriptions of the nature and cultural history of different parts of Denmark. They are collectively referred to as De Danskes Land ("Land of the Danes"..

The 1200-page De Danskes Øer. Ekspeditionen til de 132 øer ("The Danish Islands. Expedition to the 132 Islands") was published in three volumes between 1926 and 1928. In 1932-33, it was followed by the two-volume De Jyders Lan ("Land of the Jutlanders") about Jutland. In 1936-1937, Friis published Danmarks Store Øer ("Denmark's Large Islandfs") in two volumes.

All three works contain ullustrations by Friis as well as Johannes Larsen. Andreas Friis and Knud Kyhn have also contributed with illustrations to Danmarks Store Øer.

Work for Bing & Grøndhal

He designed ceramics and porcelain for Bing & Grøndahl. His designs included a number of their Christmas plates in the 1920s and 1930s.

Music career

The Achton Friis Trio

Friis also played the mandolin and mandola. His trio, Achton Friis Trio, was consisted His trio, Achton Friis Trio, was completed by Johan Tolstrup on mandolin and Frederik Birket-Smith theorbo and guitar.[4]

Private life

Friis received the Medal of Merit. He is buried at Vestre Cemetery in Copenhagen. His son, Claus Achton Friis, was also a painter and graphic artist.

References

  1. "Achton Friis" (in Danish). Gyldendal. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Gensyn med Grønland" (in Danish). Berlingske. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  3. "Tragisk Danmark-Ekspedition var også en vild kærlighedshistorie viser nyt bogværk" (in Danish). Politiken. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. "Achton Friis på Musikmuseet" (in Danish). Nationalmuseet. Retrieved 6 December 2015.

External links

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