Carl Christian Anton Christensen

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Carl Christian Anton Christensen (November 28, 1831 – July 3, 1912) was a Danish-American artist who is known for his paintings illustrating the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[1] Of him it has been said that he "did more than any other person to capture the images of the history of Mormon migration to Utah and the life lived there".^[2]

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Painting 3 Other Utah Activities 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Early Life

C.C.A. Christensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen. On January 26th, 1850 he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized by George P. Dykes. Christensen subsequently served as a missionary in his native Denmark.

He also served as a missionary in Norway. While in Norway Christensen was the first LDS Missionary to go to Christiania (now Oslo).^[3] While in Christiana Christensen taught the gospel to Danquart Anthon Weggeland, who was another prominent early Utah artist.^[4]

At the end of his service in Norway Christensen set off for Utah, going first to England. The year was 1857. He had met Elsie Scheel Haarby while serving in Norway, and planned to marry her. C. C. A. and Elsie were married in England, while on their way to Utah. They had planned to wait until reaching Utah to get married but leaders felt the trip would be easier if engaged couples got married before starting the journey.^[5] and they sailed for America on the Westmoreland.^[6] After reaching New York, they travelled by rail road to Iowa City, Iowa, the end of the line, and from there set out for Utah, traveling with the Christian Christiansen handcart company.^[1][7]

[edit] Painting

In 1862 Christensen did stage painting for a theatre in Springville, Utah.^[8]

The first major art work that Christensen undertook while in Utah was a commission from Dimick B. Huntington to do a collection of paintings from the Bible and Book of Mormon. This was done in collaboration with Dan Weggeland.^[9]

Christensen is best known for his Mormon Panorama, a series of 23 large paintings that depict the history of the church. One of his most popular paints, the one of the handcarts, was not part of the panorama. In fact his Handcart Pioneers painting is the most widely published painting of the Mormon pioneer experience by a pioneer.^[10] Christensen also painted scenes from the Book of Mormon such as Nephi and Zoram Return with the Record.^[11] There was a shole series of Book of Mormon paintings. They were originally issued by the Sunday School for use in classrooms and were latter issued in lithography form.^[12]

Christensen began touring with the Mormon panorama in 1878. The panorama was 175 feet long. Christensen would transport it about Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, giving presentations along with the panorama. He did this during the winter when he was not busy working on his farm.^[13] After Christensen's death the panorama was stored away. Many years latter it was discovered again and brought back to light, partly by the efforts of Boyd K. Packer. It would gain its fullest recognition almost a century latter when it would be showed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.^[14]

Christensen also painted some of the murals in the Manti and St. George Temples.^[15][16] Christensen also did paintings for the Manti Tabernacle.^[17]

Another theme of some of Christensen's paintings was Manti and its surroundings.^[18][19]

Christensen often collaborated with Dan Weggeland in his work in Utah.

[edit] Other Utah Activities

During his first days in Utah, Christensen found little time to paint. He did various odd jobs such as laying brick and burning charcoal as well as farming.^[20]

Christensen translated the lyrics of many LDS hymns into Danish. Some of his translated texts are still in use.^[21] Christensen also wrote poetry and contributed to Bikuben. Latter he would serve as an editor of that publication.^[22] He was also a coauthor of the History of the Scandinavian Mission.^[23]

Christensen was an instructor in drawing and Danish at the Sanpete Stake Academy (now Snow College).^[24]

Christensen served a second mission from 1865-1868. He went on a mission to Denmark from 1887-1889 during which he worked as the editor of the Scandinaviens Stjerne.^[25]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• C.C.A. Christensen's Panorama Paintings
• Article in Meridian Magazine