Israel B. Melchior

Israel Berendt Melchior was a Danish engineer, manufacturer, and amateur photographer. He is especially remembered for his photographs of the renowned author Hans Christian Andersen.

Career

Born on 12 May 1827, Israel Berendt Melchior trained as a civil engineer. In 1874, he purchased the Valdemarshaab paper factory, located just north of Køge, for 60,000 kroner after it had gone bankrupt following a flood in 1872. By 1875, Melchior had fully renovated the factory and constructed Søvang, a large Italian-style director's residence adjacent to the site. However, in October of that same year, the factory was completely destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.
Melchior lived in the villa from 1875 to 1884 with his wife Johanne Melchior, with whom he had four children. Known for their hospitality, the couple frequently hosted social gatherings, sometimes organizing soirées and short plays in their home.

Amateur photographer

Melchior was an enthusiastic amateur photographer. When constructing Søvang, he specifically designed the upper floor to include a large photographic studio with an overhead window and an east-facing glass wall to optimize natural light. He was particularly known for photographing annual family gatherings at Rolighed, the family mansion in Østerbro, near Copenhagen. These gatherings often included artists and writers, most notably Hans Christian Andersen, who became acquainted with the family in 1862 and visited frequently until his death in 1875. From 1867, Melchior captured several family group photographs with Andersen, as well as a number of portraits of the author.