Bertha Valerius facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bertha Valerius
Born	21 January 1824  Stockholm
Died	24 March 1895  (aged 71) Stockholm
Other names	Bertha
Occupation	Photographer, painter

Portrait of Josephine of Leuchtenberg

Aurora Valeria Albertina Valerius, known as Bertha, was a talented Swedish artist. She was famous as both a photographer and a painter. Bertha was born in Stockholm on January 21, 1824, and passed away there on March 24, 1895.

Bertha Valerius: Her Life and Art

Bertha Valerius grew up in Stockholm. Her father, Johan David Valerius, was a Chancellor and a member of the Swedish Academy. Her mother was Kristina Aurora Ingell. Bertha's sister, Adelaïde Leuhusen, was also a singer and painter.

Becoming an Artist

Bertha began her art studies in 1849 at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. She was very talented and received a scholarship. This allowed her to travel and study art in other famous cities like Düsseldorf, Dresden, and Paris.

When she returned home, Bertha started her career as a portrait painter. She even showed her paintings at exhibitions at the Academy in 1853 and 1856.

Discovering Photography

Later, Bertha had a chance to go back to Paris. She traveled with her sister and the famous opera singer Kristina Nilsson. During this trip, Bertha became very interested in the new art of photography.

When she came back to Stockholm in 1862, she decided to open her own photography studio. Soon, she became one of the most well-known photographers in the city.

Working for Royalty

Bertha's skills were recognized by important people. In 1864, she was named the official portrait artist for the Royal Court. This meant she took pictures of the royal family! She even created 120 special "business cards" for them.

In 1866, Bertha received an honorary diploma at an exhibition in Kungsträdgården. Her photography studio was located in the Hotel de la Croix in Norrmalm from 1868 to 1872.

Later Years and Legacy

Around 1880, Bertha decided to close her photography studio. She wanted to focus more on her painting again. Her studio was later taken over by another talented photographer, Selma Jacobsson.

Bertha was also known for her kindness. She was involved in many good causes and helped people in need. Even though she wasn't super rich, she gave away more than 150,000 Kronor to charity during her life. That's a lot of money!

You can see some of Bertha Valerius's artworks today. They are kept in places like the Royal Academy, Uppsala University Library, the Academy of Sciences, and the Östergötlands museum.