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Alda Aldanna

Alda Aldanna

Einar Jónsson


  • Year : 1905
  • Height : 35 cm
  • Width : cm
  • Category : Skúlptúr
  • Sub-category : Málmskúlptúr

Sculptor Einar Jónsson (1874-1954) was one of the artists who laid the foundation to modern art in Iceland at the start of the 20th century, and the first Icelander to make sculpture his main occupation. Einar was born in Galtafell in Hrunamannahreppur in Árnes District and brought up by his parents who were farmers. He went to Copenhagen to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1896 to 1899. During his study years, he travelled to Rome where he stayed for a year and polished his ideas about the role of the artist. He often sought inspiration for his work from mythical motifs. In 1909, Einar offered to donate his whole collection to the Icelandic people, with the condition that a museum be built for them. The museum was built according to the artist’s own plans, but the blueprint was signed by architect Einar Erlendsson in 1916. The Einar Jónsson Museum was opened on Midsummer’s Day, 23 June in 1923, the first art museum in Iceland. Einar chose the location on Skólavörðuhæð, which at the time was a deserted hill on the outskirts of town. The museum was the first building on the hill, which was the highest vantage point of the town. Einar and his contemporaries saw Skólavörðuhæð as the “Acropolis of Iceland”.

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