Hans Tegner


Hans Christian Harald Tegner, known as Hans Tegner, was a Danish artist and illustrator. He is primarily known for his illustrations of literary works by Hans Christian Andersen and Ludvig Holberg and for his work for the Bing & Grøndahl porcelain factory.

Early life and education

Son of lithographer Isac Wilhelm Tegner, Hans studied at the Royal [Danish Academy of Fine Arts] from 1869 to 1878.

Career

His first art exhibition was in 1882, featuring watercolour illustrations of Hans Christian Andersen's story The Tinderbox. His second, and last, exhibition in 1889 was a watercolour painting celebrating the 50-year jubilee of the Constitution of Denmark, and was bought by king Christian IX of Denmark. From 1883 to 1888, Tegner painted a series of illustrations for the works of Ludvig Holberg, his greatest artistic accomplishment. The second great accomplishment of Tegner, was his exquisite illustrations produced for the so-called international selection of Andersen's fairy tales, finished in 1901.
Tegner was made professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1897. He illustrated a number of other books, as well as postal stamps, and the first 5-Danish krone note in 1898. He was the leader of Kunsthåndværkerskolen from 1901 to 1917, and chief designer at porcelain manufacturer Bing & Grøndahl from 1907 to 1932. He died on 2 April 1932 in Fredensborg.

Personal life

Tegner married Helga Byberg, a daughter of merchant Ole Strib Hansen Byberg and Karen Møller, on 24 November 1896 in Sundby.
He died on 2 April 1932 and is buried in Asminderød Cemetery