Carl Christian Constantin Hansen

Early Days:

Constantin was born in Rome, the son of portrait painter Hans Hansen. The family soon moved to Vienna where the widow of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart became godmother at his christening. The family moved to Copenhagen within his first year, where he was raised.

Career:

He entered the architecture school of the Royal Danish Academy of Art (Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) at 12 years of age, but changes his course of study to painting at the age of 21. He began his training under Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg in 1828. He lost both his parents at about this time to typhus, and became the sole supporter of his younger sisters. He took over several commissions that had belonged to his father, including some copies to the Portrait Collection at Frederiksborg Palace and decorative paintings to Christiansborg Palace.

After eight years in Italy he finally returned to Denmark, staying briefly in Munich where he studied the technique of fresco painting, in anticipation of a commission, along with Georg Hilker, to decorate the University of Copenhagen's vestibule on Frue Plads. This work continued from 1844-1853. Hansen painted the mythological figures, while Hilker painted the decorations and frameworks.