Carl Heinrich Bloch [1834-1890] | 33 Paintings

The celebrated Danish painter, Carl Heinrich Bloch, was born on May 23, 1834, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of merchant Joergen Peter Bloch and Ida Emilie Ulrikke Henriette Weitzmann Bloch.

Bloch’s parents wanted their son to enter a respectable profession – an officer in the Navy. This, however, was not what Carl wanted. His only interest was drawing and painting, and he was consumed by the idea of becoming an artist.

In January 1849, Carl Bloch’s parents gave-in to the pressure and allowed him to draw in his spare time in the evenings at the Royal Danish Academy of Art.

In 1852 Bloch was awarded a small silver medal for one of his drawings, which was exhibited the following year at the Academy.

In 1853 he went on his first study-trip to Jyderup, Denmark, where his artistic progress, during this period in his life, placed him on the “correct side” within the art society. Although Carl Bloch definitely had “The European Touch,” he was reckoned among “The Nationales” with Marstrand – Constantin Hansen – Roed – P.C. Skovgaard – Sonne – Dalsgaard and Kyhn – who were all part of “The Eckersberg-Tradition.” [Source]