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Lot Essay
In November 1880, Munch wrote in his diary: "I have now withdrawn again from the Technical College. I have in fact made up my mind to become a painter." (Edward Munch diary, 1879-1882, Munch Museum, I51).
The present picture is closely related to another painting depicting the same Church, located in the Munch Museum, Oslo. Both paintings were executed during the winter of 1880-1881 and depict the view from Munch's family flat in Christiana. Arne Eggum has pointed out: "The church towering above the row of houses gives the motif a monumental character, despite the small format. Other subjects that Munch painted from the windows of the flat reveal the same precise observation [...] in the winter landscape, clearly and tactilely formulated in the crystal-clear winter air." (A. Eggum, Edvard Munch, Paintings, Sketches and Studies, London, 1983, p.29).
Old Acker Church was originally owned by Andreas Bjolstadt, the artist's half uncle. Andreas Bjolstadt senior, Munch's grand-father, married twice: his first wife, Inger Marie, bore him four children, one of whom was Laura Cathrine, the painter's mother. His second wife, Marie, bore him sixteen children, among whom was Andreas Bjolstadt junior - who, eventually, emigrated to America and settled in San Francisco, where he became the vice consul for Norway.
The Munch Museum has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this painting.
The present picture is closely related to another painting depicting the same Church, located in the Munch Museum, Oslo. Both paintings were executed during the winter of 1880-1881 and depict the view from Munch's family flat in Christiana. Arne Eggum has pointed out: "The church towering above the row of houses gives the motif a monumental character, despite the small format. Other subjects that Munch painted from the windows of the flat reveal the same precise observation [...] in the winter landscape, clearly and tactilely formulated in the crystal-clear winter air." (A. Eggum, Edvard Munch, Paintings, Sketches and Studies, London, 1983, p.29).
Old Acker Church was originally owned by Andreas Bjolstadt, the artist's half uncle. Andreas Bjolstadt senior, Munch's grand-father, married twice: his first wife, Inger Marie, bore him four children, one of whom was Laura Cathrine, the painter's mother. His second wife, Marie, bore him sixteen children, among whom was Andreas Bjolstadt junior - who, eventually, emigrated to America and settled in San Francisco, where he became the vice consul for Norway.
The Munch Museum has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this painting.