Ambrosia Tønnesen


Ambrosia Tønnesen was a Norwegian sculptor. She is regarded as the first professional female sculptor in Norway, and is best known for her many portraits, including statues, busts, and reliefs.

Personal life and education

Tønnesen was born in Ålesund, a daughter of steamshipmaster Abraham Tønnesen and Thomine Jonasen. She worked as a schoolteacher in Bergen for some years, while also studying drawing, modeling, and painting. In 1885 she travelled to Copenhagen where she studied with painter Bertha Wegmann and sculptor Stephan Sinding. She then studied with sculptor Albert Wolff in Berlin, and further with René de Saint-Marceaux in Paris.

Career

Among Tønnesen's early sculptures are Våren, Sneklokken, Den onde Hjørdis, and Den korsfestede Kristus. She made a large number of portraits, and is regarded as the first female Norwegian sculptor who made her living from her art. Her portraits include statues of Ole Bull, Johan Christian Dahl, and Camilla Collett; reliefs of Dorothe Engelbretsdatter and Petter Dass; and busts of Edvard Grieg, Ole Irgens, Amalie Skram, Gina Krog, Christian Michelsen, Henrik Angell, Wollert Konow, and .
Tønnesen was decorated with the French order Officier d'Académie.
She died in Fana on 21 January 1948, aged 88.

Literature