Gunnfríður Jónsdóttir
Encyclopedia
Gunnfríður Jónsdóttir was an Icelandic sculptor born in the North West of Iceland
on December 26, 1889. She died in 1968.
who had been suspected of witchcraft. Her parents were Halldóra Einarsdóttir Andréssonar and Jón Jónsson.
and learn to be a seamstress after the school burned down. She was to be successful both in Iceland and in Denmark
, where she moved in 1919. By 1924 she had returned to Iceland and that year she married Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson
. She returned with him to Sweden
, where he was studying with sculptor Carl Milles
. In 1929 they returned to Iceland, making their home in Reykjavík. Gunnfríður and Ásmundar were divorced about 1940.
collection contains a number of her works.
Her best known sculpture, Land in Sight , carved from Norwegian
granite, was dedicated at Strandarkirkja in 1950. The work commemorates a local tale of a sailor, lost at sea during a terrible storm, who was guided to shore by a shining female figure. He promised to build a church if he was saved, and thus the first church on that spot was erected around the year 1200. Since that time the bay has been referred to as "Angel Cove."
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
on December 26, 1889. She died in 1968.
Family
Gunnfríður's grandfather was Einar Andrésson, a rhymesterPoetaster
Poetaster, like rhymester or versifier, is a contemptuous name often applied to bad or inferior poets. Specifically, poetaster has implications of unwarranted pretentions to artistic value. The word was coined in Latin by Erasmus in 1521...
who had been suspected of witchcraft. Her parents were Halldóra Einarsdóttir Andréssonar and Jón Jónsson.
Early life
At the age of 19 Gunnfríður attended a young women's school, but was forced to move to AkureyriAkureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality ....
and learn to be a seamstress after the school burned down. She was to be successful both in Iceland and in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, where she moved in 1919. By 1924 she had returned to Iceland and that year she married Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson
Ásmundur Sveinsson
Ásmundur Sveinsson was an Icelandic sculptor, was born at Kolsstadir in West Iceland on May 20, 1893 and died in Reykjavík on December 9, 1982.-Early years:...
. She returned with him to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he was studying with sculptor Carl Milles
Carl Milles
Carl Milles was a Swedish sculptor, best known for his fountains. He was married to artist Olga Milles and brother to Ruth Milles and half brother to the architect Evert Milles...
. In 1929 they returned to Iceland, making their home in Reykjavík. Gunnfríður and Ásmundar were divorced about 1940.
Work
In 1931, shortly after returning to Iceland, Gunnfríður created her first sculpture, A Dreaming Boy. This was followed by many other works, a good number of them portraits. The National Gallery of IcelandNational Gallery of Iceland
The National Gallery of Iceland is located in Reykjavík, and contains a collection of Icelandic art. The gallery features artwork of famous Icelandic artists and artwork that helps explain the traditional Icelandic culture.- External links :* including...
collection contains a number of her works.
Her best known sculpture, Land in Sight , carved from Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
granite, was dedicated at Strandarkirkja in 1950. The work commemorates a local tale of a sailor, lost at sea during a terrible storm, who was guided to shore by a shining female figure. He promised to build a church if he was saved, and thus the first church on that spot was erected around the year 1200. Since that time the bay has been referred to as "Angel Cove."