The painting titled Norwegian Landscape sold at Sotheby’s London in 2012 for $22,174, marking a notable valuation for the work of Heinrich Louis Theodor Gurlitt. As a landscape painter active throughout the nineteenth century, he navigated shifting national allegiances and professional transitions across the Kingdom of Prussia and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Early Training and Education
Born in 1812 in Altona, which was then a prominent Danish town, Gurlitt belonged to the Gurlitt family. He commenced his artistic education under the guidance of Siegfried Detlev Bendixen in Hamburg. By 1832, he transitioned to study in Copenhagen, where he earned a silver medal the following year. The local academy recognized him as one of their most talented and mature students, and he maintained a presence in the city's exhibition circuit until approximately 1875.
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Gurlitt’s domestic life was marked by several marriages following the premature deaths of his partners. He married Elise Saxild in 1837, though she passed away two years later. His second marriage was to Julie Bürger, who gave birth to a son before her death in 1844. In 1847, he wed Elisabeth Lewald. Following this third union, he relocated to reside across various regions in Austria and Germany.
Political Shifts and Professional Legacy
The Schleswig conflicts between 1848 and 1864 fundamentally altered Gurlitt’s geopolitical standing. Originating from Holstein, he elected to support the German side during these disputes, which concluded with Prussia’s acquisition of Schleswig-Holstein. Despite this shift from his Danish origins to German citizenship, he retained professional ties to the Danish artistic community. The Royal collection of paintings currently houses six of his compositions.
Artistic Output and Market Presence
Specializing in oil landscapes, Gurlitt produced numerous works including Monte Pellegrino, Landscape Near Salzburg, Bay Of Ieranto With Fishermen, and North Italian Landscape. His market longevity is reflected in the inclusion of his pieces in auctions categorized as nineteenth-century European paintings. Gurlitt died in Naundorf in 1897 at the age of 85.
Fast facts
- Born: 1812, Altona
- Died: 1897, Naundorf
- Primary medium: Oil painting
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia, Kingdom of Denmark
- Family: Cornelius Gurlitt (brother), Cornelius Gurlitt (son)
- Significant auction: Norwegian Landscape ($22,174, 2012)
Questions readers ask
Was Louis Gurlitt Danish or German?
He was born Danish in Altona but later acquired German citizenship, particularly after choosing the German side during the Schleswig conflicts.
Where can Gurlitt’s works be viewed?
The Royal collection of paintings holds six of his works, while others have appeared in major European nineteenth-century painting auctions.
