Ole Peter Hansen Balling facts for kids
Ole Peter Hansen Balling (born April 13, 1823 – died May 1, 1906) was a talented Norwegian artist. He is best known for his amazing portraits, which are paintings of people. Many of his famous portraits can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C..
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Early Life and Art Training
Ole Peter Hansen Balling was born in Kristiania, which is now known as Oslo, Norway. He began his art studies with a Norwegian artist named Ferdinand Jonas Gjøs. Later, he learned from a Danish painter, Jacob Emilius Wunderlich.
Balling continued his art education at important schools. He studied at the Academy of Arts in Berlin from 1843 to 1845. After that, he went to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen from 1846 to 1848. In 1854, he even studied with the famous artist Thomas Couture in Paris. His first public art show was in 1852 at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition.
Military Service and Moving to America
In 1848, Balling joined the military and became a Danish officer during the Schleswig-Holstein War. This was a conflict between Denmark and German states.
In 1856, Ole Peter Hansen Balling moved to the United States. He lived there for many years, until 1874. During his time in America, he played a part in the American Civil War. He was a commander of the 145th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a group of soldiers fighting for the Union.
Painting Famous Americans
After his military service, Balling painted many important people. He created portraits of several generals from the Union Army. These included famous leaders like Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, John Sedgwick, and James S. Wadsworth.
He also painted portraits of important American politicians. Among them were presidents Chester Arthur and James Garfield. His artwork captured the look and personality of these historical figures.
Return to Norway and Later Life
In 1874, Balling moved back to Norway. He opened an art workshop in Horten, a town where the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy was located. There, he painted portraits of several Norwegian naval officers.
He also painted members of the Royal Bernadotte family. This family included kings of Sweden and Norway, such as Charles XIV John of Sweden, Oscar I of Sweden, Charles XV of Sweden, and Oscar II of Sweden.
From 1881 to 1890, Balling lived and worked in Mexico City. When he returned to Norway in 1890, he became the Mexican consul in Kristiania. This meant he represented Mexico's interests in Norway. His last trip to New York City was in 1895-1896. Ole Peter Hansen Balling passed away in Kristiania in 1906.
Where to See His Art
You can find Ole Peter Hansen Balling's artwork in several important places. His paintings are displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. You can also see his art at the West Point Military Academy in New York and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In Norway, his works are at the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum in Horten and the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo.
Awards
- Order of the Dannebrog – Denmark
Gallery
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Portrait of Ulysses S. Grant
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Portrait of Chester A. Arthur
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Portrait of John Brown
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Portrait of James Garfield
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