Another Berthelsen” Continued on Page 4 About It
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“Treasure Cave” continued from page 3 Berthelsen could visit, relax, and enjoy a long conversation in Danish with his good friend. Niels’s life was interesting in its own right in that, during yields unique Berthelsen painting—and two more! the Second World War as a 6-year-old child, his life, along “Treasure Cave” with the lives of hundreds of other Danes, was saved from the Nazis by Danish patriot Aage Bertelsen. e daring A newsletter for those interested in the life and works of Johann Berthelsen escape is recorded in a book titled “October ‘43” written Fall 2018, No. 6 by him and published in 1954. “e Little Mermaid,” a favorite character in the work of Hans Christian Andersen, is displayed on a rock at the Langelinie Promenade and was created by Edvard Eriksen and unveiled in 1913. It was commissioned by Carl Jacobsen, son of the founder of Carlsberg Brewery, after seeing a ballet based on the fairytale. e head of the AnotherJohn Berthelsen continuedBerthelsen the family mermaid is modeled after Ellen Price, the ballerina. Lee’s Famed throughout the world, the statue is to the Danish reasons, this painting represents a major discovery and Letter tradition in his own unique style people what the Statue of Liberty represents to Americans— a highly significant contribution to the catalog of my a proud representation of their homeland. As such, it was father’s work. I have to smile when I think that, like any an excellent subject for Johann Berthelsen’s tribute to mischievous little girl, our mermaid played hide-and-seek a close friend and fellow Dane. with us for many years. Fortunately, she has now Finding the Past In recognizing the significance of the discovery, Lee magically reappeared, and we can admire her beauty.” Berthelsen commented, “For both personal and artistic 6 ’ccasionally, we speak about O“rediscovering” the past. What can be much more rewarding is discovering Johann Berthelsen John Berthelsen for the first time things relating to the past that we never knew. ere is he idea of inherited artistic easy saleable subjects to serious a phenomenon among historians that talentT has long been a subject genre painting. His style, the further removed we are from an of discussion. Whether the which differed considerably era or an event, the more we know talent is innate or developed “Another Berthelsen” continued on page 4 about it. is is because those as a function of exposure and experiencing it for the first time rarely environment, or both, remains pay attention to details and concentrate a mystery. Charles Wilson Canvas Contents only on the larger picture. Subsequently, Peale not only named his Lee’s Letter............................1, 5 As a rule, Johann Berthelsen’s a summer’s night and another a multitude of once-forgotten facts or Another Berthelsen...........1, 4, 5 he words “Treasure Cave” children after Old Masters work consisted of images of places depicting the nearby equestrian occurrences that lend a whole new call to mind visions of pirate ships, but educated them to paint in Friends .....................................2 T with which he was intimately General Sherman statue in snow. meaning to the event are often realized. mysterious islands, and chests of a style very similar to his own. 1928 lives again........................4 familiar on a personal basis. gold. Few would associate the e significance of “e Little Growing up, I was very close to my ree generations of the Wyeth Treasure Cave........................3, 6 Among the exceptions are his term with a common storage Mermaid” portrait derives from father. I was fascinated by his work as family demonstrate certain paintings of Paris and, more locker, but for one very lucky the fact that it was painted by an artist and by the stories he would similarities but maintain their recently, a portrait of “e Little bidder who was trying to salvage Johann Berthelsen as a gift for his tell of his earlier experiences in music. own signature manner. Mermaid” statue that looks out a folded American flag belonging good friend, Niels Bamberger. I frequently assisted him in stretching Although all three children of over Copenhagen’s harbor and to a fallen hero at an auction of Like Johann, Niels was a native of 53211-3453 WI Milwaukee, his canvases and was fortunate enough Johann Berthelsen exhibited was one of the three paintings Blvd. Kenwood E. 2816 unclaimed property, it resulted in Denmark who operated a gallery to accompany him on trips to the singular artistic and musical “e Canvas” is published by recovered from the storage locker. e Johann Berthelsen Conservancy, LLC the discovery of three original of Danish art, collectibles, and galleries that sold his paintings. In so talent, John, the older son, e others include two images www.berthelsenart.com • 414-962-7865 Berthelsens—one of which is artifacts in Manhattan. It was one doing, I became quite familiar with not only chose to paint as Edited by Frank Burke of the Grand Army Plaza near significant in the artist’slife. of the few places where Johann the many scenes he painted and his a regular avocation but evolved To reach Frank Burke or to be New York’s Plaza Hotel on added to the mailing list, email him at “Treasure Cave” continued on page 6 favorite subjects. It would not be an stylistically from popular and [email protected] 3 “Lee’s Letter” continued on page 5 “Another Berthelsen” continued from page 1 “Lee’s Letter” continued from page 1 1928 lives again in settled in a historic house in in her life, he ultimately willed the entire proceeds exaggeration to say that I grew to know more than Friends Chelsea, Vermont, and subsequently of his estate to her care. anyone else in the family about him and his work. maintained a position as Director Since founding e Johann Berthelsen Conservancy, —a voice from the Golden Age of State Planning. He would later however, I have come to discover many things that exquisite work for Dartmouth University as I did not previously know. rough the generosity Orville Harrold Curator of their Map Museum. of the galleries and friends of the Conservancy, we have found paintings of buildings and scenes that uring the time in which he Considered one of the leading roughout his life, John was I was totally unaware of. In discussions with family lived and taught in Indiana, Johann tenors in New York, Harrold fascinated by painting and the D Berthelsen members and others, I have found information Berthelsen created an informal frequently returned to the Midwest, graphic arts. rough his father, regarding my father’s career, both as a singer and “salon” that incorporated the leading singing with several leading Chicago his work was shown to a French painting as a voice instructor. Much of my work has also business, artistic and literary figures, opera companies. His popularity bookstore owner in Rockefeller rekindled and brought back to life old memories including developer Carl Fisher, was assured by the breadth of his Center who encouraged John to of people and events from long ago. For example, author Booth Tarkington, poet repertoire in performances ranging continue his sketches of Parisian a major auction house recently sold a 28" x 36" James Whitcomb Riley, and others. from concerts at Carnegie Hall to scenes. Aware that a more French spring scene of Central Park originally painted from One member of the group to whom vaudeville at the Palace eater. sounding name would lend “Winter in Quebec” by John Berthelsen life in 1928 and once hung in our New York City he was especially close and with “Paris Scene” by John Berthelsen a greater degree of authenticity In 1919, Harrold made his debut at to his work, he began to sign it By both circumstances and inclination, John apartment in the 1930s. whom he had much in common the Metropolitan Opera opposite from that of his father, imbued as “Jean Berté.” e sketches Berthelsen avoided any excessive commercialization In this issue of our newsletter, you will read about was the renowned operatic tenor Enrico Caruso as Prince Leopold his work with a singular appeal— became popular and provided of his work, preferring instead to place select some of the hitherto unknown Berthelsens that Orville Harrold. in Halévy’s “La Juive.” His singing something that Johann additional income for his studies pieces with local galleries or to give them to friends have come to light. You will also learn aspects Largely forgotten today, Harrold so impressed the great Enrico Caruso enthusiastically encouraged. at Columbia University. or local businesses. As a result, his reputation of Johann Berthelsen’s professional activities that was considered one of the leading that Caruso presented him with one ecently, a significant early John Berthelsen was born in 1930. On settling in New England, he remained primarily local. To those who know might well lead to further discoveries and, though musical talents in the early part of his Pagliacci costumes, which he work by Johann Berthelsen was During the Korean War, he served R was inspired by the scenery to his work, and especially to those who knew him it saddened me to have to write it, there is a tribute of the 20th century and excelled wore when he sat for a portrait by offered for auction. e 28" x 36" in the United States Air Force as Hammerstein, the father of the seriously develop his ability as as a generous individual and wonderful raconteur, to my late brother who carried on the family’s in both operatic and musical his friend and fellow Hoosier, canvas, painted in 1928, depicts a meteorologist and afterwards famous Broadway lyricist and partner a landscape painter.