Vigeland Museum

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Vigeland Museum
Established 1947 (as a museum)
Location Frogner, Oslo
Type Gustav Vigeland's works
Director Jarle Strømodden
Public transit access Oslo Tramway
Website www.vigeland.museum.no

The Vigeland Museum (Norwegian: Vigeland-museet, often called Vigelandsmuseet) is a museum in Oslo, Norway.

Its history began in 1919 when noted sculptor Gustav Vigeland made an offer to Oslo Municipality to donate his works sometime in the future. Vigeland's total body of works consisted not only of sculptures, but also woodcuts, drawings, sketches and photographs as well as letters, other writings and a personal library. In return, Vigeland wanted an atelier. The atelier could be rebuilt as a museum after his death. Even Vigeland's flat on the third floor was preserved as a part of the museum.[1]

The building of the would-be museum commenced in 1921, as soon as a contract between Vigeland and Oslo had been formalized.[2] The architects were Lorentz Harboe Ree and Carl Buch, and the style was neo-classic. In 1923 Vigeland moved in, one year before the middle part and northern wing were completed. The southern wing was completed in 1930. The atelier was used by both Vigeland and other artists.[1]

Vigeland died in 1943, during the hard economic times of World War II. The building was opened as a public museum in 1947,[1] partially thanks to budget surplus from the municipal cinema company Oslo Kinematografer.[3] The museum is still owned by Oslo municipality via its etat of culture,[4] and the current museum director is Jarle Strømodden.[5]

Immediately north of the museum is the more famous Vigeland Sculpture Park—which showcases Vigeland's larger statues and sculptures—and the Frogner Park. The highway Ring 2 runs nearby, and buses as well as Oslo Tramway provide for public transportation. The museum is within reasonable walking distance of the stations Frogner plass on the Frogner Line, and, further away, Nobels gate on the Skøyen Line (the now-closed station Halvdan Svartes gate was proximate as well).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tvedt, Knut Are, ed. (2000). "Vigelandsmuseet". Oslo byleksikon (4 ed.). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. pp. 476–477. ISBN 82-573-0815-3. 
  2. ↑ "Historie" (in Norwegian). Vigeland Museum. Retrieved 27 July 2009. 
  3. ↑ Tvedt, Knut Are, ed. (2000). "Oslo kinematografer". Oslo byleksikon (4 ed.). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. p. 328. ISBN 82-573-0815-3. 
  4. ↑ "Organisasjon" (in Norwegian). Vigeland Museum. Retrieved 27 July 2009. 
  5. ↑ "Ansatte" (in Norwegian). Vigeland Museum. Retrieved 27 July 2009. 
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Coordinates: 59°55′22″N 10°42′00″E / 59.92285°N 10.70013°E / 59.92285; 10.70013

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