Hans Skalagard

Art Brokerage: Hans Skalagard Danish Artist: b. 1924. Hans Skalagard is a world renowned marine painter. He has been described as a "living legend" by art critics. This man is a descendant of Vikings and was born in the Faeroe Islands of Denmark in 1924. He began painting at the age of 8, and at the age of 14 began to carry on the family's seafaring tradition, becoming an apprentice seaman on a square rigged ship (such as "County of Linlithgow" in the painting which is for sale). Thus, he began his experiences that allowed him to create accurate paintings of such ships. Hans grew in experience and served on merchant ships during World War II convoys. He survived the sinking of four (4) ships in six (6) years of this war, enabling him to draw on these experiences and paint a series of ten "North Atlantic Convoy Scenes". Hans had initially moved to the United States in 1943 but returned to Denmark after the war to study at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen. In New York, he had a one man show in 1954, where he had studied with the marine painter, Anton Otto Fisher. In 1955, he became an American citizen and soon after married Mignon, who became his business manager. In 1961, his works were exhibited at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, California. He remained in California, becoming a fixture in his Carmel, California gallery, "Skalagard's Square-Rigger". He has had numerous one man shows both in the United States and in Europe. His paintings are hung in many public buildings. Examples of such locations include the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, the Los Angeles County Maritime Museum, the Allen Knight Maritime Museum and galleries in Norway, Denmark and his native Faeroe Islands. His paintings are owned by admirals and collectors world over. He is the holder of six gold medals for his work. Hans spent over thirty years at sea and his paintings accurately reflect this knowledge of sailing ships and the weather at sea. Listings wanted.