Harry Fett
Encyclopedia
Harry Fett was a Norwegian art historian and factory owner. He headed the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
from 1913 to 1946.
as the son of factory owner Frans Eduard Fett and Ester Carolina Emilia Fischer. He was married to Harriet Emilie Trepka Rode from 1903.
in 1894. He then carried through a European study tour which lasted four years, visiting Germany and Italy. During these studies he was particularly influenced by the art historians Wilhelm Vöge and Adolf Furtwängler
. Back in Norway he was appointed secretary of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. While in this position Fett carried out a large documentary work on church art from the Middle Ages throughout the country. He also did work for the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. In 1908 he delivered his doctoral thesis, Billedhuggerkunsten i Norge under Sverreætten. After the death of his father in 1911, he took over as manager for the family company, including the factories Høyenhall Fabrikker. He headed the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
from 1913 to 1946. While in this position he supported the conservation and restoration of ancient Church Art, and worked for the preservation of sites such as the mining town Røros
and Bryggen
in Bergen
, both later listed as World Heritage Site
s.
Fett regularly wrote articles for magazines and newspapers, and issued several books. He was a co-founder of the magazine Kunst og Kultur
in 1910, and started the organization Kunst på arbeidsplassen. Fett was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1925, Commander in 1938, and Commander with star in 1946.
Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage is a government agency responsible for the management of cultural heritage in Norway. Subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, it manages the Cultural Heritage Act of June 9, 1978....
from 1913 to 1946.
Personal life
Fett was born in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as the son of factory owner Frans Eduard Fett and Ester Carolina Emilia Fischer. He was married to Harriet Emilie Trepka Rode from 1903.
Career
Fett finished his examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1894. He then carried through a European study tour which lasted four years, visiting Germany and Italy. During these studies he was particularly influenced by the art historians Wilhelm Vöge and Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler was a famous German archaeologist, teacher, art historian and museum director. He was the father of the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and grandfather of the German archaeologist Andreas Furtwängler....
. Back in Norway he was appointed secretary of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. While in this position Fett carried out a large documentary work on church art from the Middle Ages throughout the country. He also did work for the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. In 1908 he delivered his doctoral thesis, Billedhuggerkunsten i Norge under Sverreætten. After the death of his father in 1911, he took over as manager for the family company, including the factories Høyenhall Fabrikker. He headed the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage is a government agency responsible for the management of cultural heritage in Norway. Subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, it manages the Cultural Heritage Act of June 9, 1978....
from 1913 to 1946. While in this position he supported the conservation and restoration of ancient Church Art, and worked for the preservation of sites such as the mining town Røros
Røros
is a town and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Other villages include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen....
and Bryggen
Bryggen
Bryggen , also known as Tyskebryggen is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.The city...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, both later listed as World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s.
Fett regularly wrote articles for magazines and newspapers, and issued several books. He was a co-founder of the magazine Kunst og Kultur
Kunst og Kultur
Kunst og Kultur is a Norwegian cultural magazine, founded in 1910 by Harry Fett and Haakon Shetelig. Editor from 2003 is Ellen Lerberg....
in 1910, and started the organization Kunst på arbeidsplassen. Fett was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1925, Commander in 1938, and Commander with star in 1946.
Selected bibliography
- Billedhuggerkunsten i Norge under Sverreætten (thesis, 1908)
- Norges kirker i middelalderen (1909)
- Norges kirker i nyere tid (1909)
- Norges kirker i det 16de og 17de aarhundrede (1911)
- Norges malerkunst i middelalderen (1917)
- Norsk kunsthistorie (1925–1927, two volumes, together with C. W. Schnitler)