[bykinist]

In 2012, five paintings by William Hammersheya sold 5.36 million and one of them , " reads the letter Ida " has broken the record for the sale of a painting by the Danish artist , the auction of its value amounted to EUR 2 million .

Tell us about the life and work of genius we asked the Danish Rasmus Hamluma , Danish art historian and guide one of the major museums of Denmark Arosa .

- What was the childhood Bilgelma , how was his creative development ?

William was the son of a merchant , in Copenhagen, May 15, 1864 He was the eldest of three children, his brother Pig later became a painter and ceramist . William was born in one of the holy days , and for his mother, Frederikki it was a sign . She was an ambitious woman, and wanted her children to become famous . He showed early talent for drawing, at 8 years old he was already taking private lessons.
In 1876-1885 he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, but later dropped it by going into a new art school " Three artists " under the direction of Peder Severin Krøyer , who announced that the teaching at the Academy of Art is a conservative and outdated , based on ideas of the Golden Age of Danish painting is no longer relevant and needs change. Their inspirations were the Impressionists , as well as the ideas of Darwin and Nietzsche. " There is no God " , so it makes no sense to paint scenes from the Bible or church life , they want to present an image of life , so their paintings we see poverty , ugliness , harsh reality. William also found inspiration in the image of his family life, his home.

- A story about his wife Ida , we see it in many paintings Hammersheya and her brother Peter Ilsteda . What was she and her relationship with her husband ?

With Peter William first met at the Academy of Arts , a lifetime of the friendship , and it is thanks to him that he met Ida. They married in 1891 , they were gentle, loving relationship. But I guess life of Ida was hard emotionally. On the one hand, the crazy mother ( William Frederikke said that the situation in the house is very heavy , and he wants to marry soon Ida to get her out of this situation .) On the other hand, the relationship with the mother , they were polite , but a little too Frederikke took care of his son. She collected all the articles from the newspapers , too involved in his life. Yeah sure, if Wilhelm moved from his father's home at the age of only 26 years old when he married . They had no children , and it can be assumed that she had moral pressure from his family . Also , William traveled extensively, searching for ideas and stories , a lot of drawing , and Ida , who accompanied him , was lonely .

- How do you think what the character was at Hammersheya ?

He was a standout . Even in art school Krøyer noticed it , and do not put pressure on him. He intuitively knew that sooner or later , but he will find his artistic style. He was also quite a closed person. For example, a collector invited him to dinner together with other artists , but Wilhelm , whether because of a lack of knowledge of French , whether because of the fact that he did not like the Parisian way of life, with its bright , impressionistic colors, and never does not appear in this house.

- How to sell paintings during his lifetime Hammersheya ?

His work is mainly bought by German collectors . The main buyer was the Danish collector Alfred Brahms. But after his death from throat cancer in 1916, gradually forget about it . Prior to 1980 - xx , when it re- opened in London.

- Tell me, why now his paintings are so expensive , where the interest?

The cost of works of art has always been debate among experts. Maybe it's just a fashion . But as Hammersheya , his work is really unique. He specifically uses grays to convey their feelings , what 's inside , in his relationship with Ida . And one can not say what is in the picture . Everyone can find their story.