Gustav Vigeland (born April 11, 1869, Mandal, Norway—died March 12, 1943, Oslo, Norway) was the most prolific Norwegian sculptor during the nineteenth century. His best known works are housed at the Vigeland Sculpture Park in the capital city of Norway.
Born to a master carpenter, he and his four brothers labored in his father’s small town workshop until his father succumbed to alcoholism and he was forced to live with his maternal grandfather. Returning to take care of his ill father, who had moved to Oslo, Gustav took classes at the Royal School of Design. During his studies he became surprisingly interested in human anatomy which would influence his works later in life. He traveled abroad frequently and one of the most famous locations he visited was Paris. While there he visited Auguste Rodin’s studio, where Rodin sculpted his “The Gates of Hell” works and was greatly inspired.
He was commissioned to sculpt the Henrik Wergeland statue at Island Park, Fargo, North Dakota. Unknowing to the citizens to Fargo, Gustav was already working on the late Norwegian poet and national icon. Unfortunately, he would not finish the work and a group of professionals would have to finish the statue.
“Gustav Vigeland,” Encyclopædia Britannica, (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc,) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-Vigeland.
Wikborg, “Gustav Vigeland (1869 – 1943),” Go Norway, http://www.gonorway.no/go/vigeland.html.
