Muggur facts for kids

Guðmundur Pétursson Thorsteinsson, known best as Muggur (born September 5, 1891), was a talented artist from Iceland. He was a painter, graphic artist, writer, and even an actor in films! Muggur passed away on July 27, 1924, when he was only 32 years old. His younger brothers were all professional football players.

Muggur's Early Life and Art Journey

Muggur's father, Pétur J. Thorsteinsson, was a very successful businessman in Iceland. He even started a big fishing company. When Muggur was about 12 years old, his family moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. However, they often traveled between Denmark and Iceland.

Muggur studied art at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1911 to 1915. He also took special trips to Germany and Italy to learn more about art. In 1915, he visited the United States. His artworks were shown there and received great reviews in a newspaper called the Evening Sun.

Muggur's Creative Works

Muggur (1922/23)

Besides his paintings, Muggur also wrote and drew pictures for a children's book. It was called The Story of Dimmalimm. This book was about a young girl and a magical swan. He wrote it in 1921 for his niece. He was on a cargo ship sailing from Italy to Iceland at the time. The book was published much later, in 1942.

Later, a famous writer named Jóhannes úr Kötlum turned Dimmalimm into a play with verses. It was also made into a ballet with music by Atli Heimir Sveinsson. Muggur also created many drawings inspired by old Norse stories called the Eddas. He even designed Iceland's first special deck of playing cards!

Muggur was also a good amateur actor. He played a big role in one of Iceland's first films. The movie was called Sons of the Soil (or Saga Borgarættarinnar). It was based on a book by Gunnar Gunnarsson.

Muggur's Later Life

Muggur was married for a short time, but his marriage ended. In 1923, his health was not good. He also had an accident where a horse kicked him in the back. After spending time at a special health spa in France, he returned to his family's home in Denmark. He sadly passed away from a serious chest illness when he was only 32 years old. Most of his artworks are now kept at the National Gallery of Iceland.

Selected Artworks

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  Carrying Coal, 1919

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  Seventh Day in Paradise, 1920

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  Snæfellsjökull, 1922