A Walk By The Old Church (1923)

Mønsted, Peder (1859 - 1941)

A Walk By The Old Church

Oil on Canvas: 12" x 16"
Catalog# MONP-002

A young child walks with her mother down a beaten path surrounded by lush green trees, bushes and flowers. Behind them is an old church with its trademark Danish step-tower. The skies are blue with white puffy clouds and sunlight coming from the left. The figure’s shadows are cast to the right along with the thinning tree. Monsted’s specific detail brings the viewer to imagine that they can reach in and touch the soft, green grass and white and yellow wildflowers – this if they get just close enough they can hear the two girl’s footsteps on the path. Monsted uses textured paint on the yellow and white flowers to enhance their luster by the mid-day sun.

Artist: Peder Mork Mønsted

  • Born December 10th 1859 in Grena, DK, son of Otto Christian Mønsted and Thora Johanne P. Jorgensen.
  • Married to Elna Mathilde Marie Sommer March 14th 1889.
  • Died June 20th 1941 in Copenhagen.

Education:

  • *As a child Peder was a student at the Crown Prince Ferdinands Drawing School in Arhus, under Andreas Fritz.
  • 1875-79 - Attended The Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen under J.F. Vermehren, Julius Exner, N. Simonsen, and Peder S. Kroyer.
  • 1882-83 - Student of W.A. Bouguereau* in Paris

Travels:

  • 1882 - Italy (Capri) and Switzerland
  • 1882-83 - Paris
  • 1889 - Algeria and Switzerland
  • 1892 - Mediterranean on the St. Thomas Korvette; Greece, Egypt, and Most of Southern Europe (on and off rest of his life).

Exhibits:

  • 1874 - December Exhibit in Copenhagen
  • 1879-88, 90-94, 96-97, 1900-02, 12, 14-41 - Charlottenborg Palace Spring Exhibitions
  • 1883, 88 - Nordic Art Exhibit
  • 1889 - World Exhibition in Paris
  • 1892 - Kleis Art Exhibit in Copenhagen
  • 1892 - International Art Exhibition in Glaspalast, Munich
  • 1892 - Paris Salon Exhibit
  • 1895 - Nordic Art Exhibition in Lubeck
  • 1901 - Town Hall Exhibit in Copenhagen
  • 1905 - Winkel & Magnussen Exhibit
  • 1909, 19 - Charlottenborg Palace Exhibition
  • 1913, 23-25, 27, 29-30, 33-34, 37-38, 42, 59-60 - Association of National Art Exhibit
  • 1921, 1923-24, 1926-27, 1930-36 - Private Studio Exhibits
  • 1922, 31 - K.E. Exhibit
  • 1925 - Arhus Museums Exhibit
  • 1928 - Arhus Exhibit for National Artists

Biography:

Peder Mork Mønsted was born on December 10th 1859 near to Grenaa in Denmark. He began his artistic training in Aarhus before traveling to Copenhagen to study at the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen from 1875 to 1879. He was much influenced by his teacher Andries Fritz, court painter to Prince Ferdinand of Aarhus, and he also studied figure painting under Julius Exner and Niels Simonsen.

Mønsted’s style developed further in the studio of Peder Severin Krøyer and through a brief period with William Adolphe Bouguereau.

Although established in Copenhagen, he traveled throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. His work was frequently exhibited at The Charlottenborg Palace and at the Paris and Munich Salons.

He is widely recognized for his luminous landscapes often featuring water, which demonstrate an almost photographic quality and supreme technical skill.