| Berndt Godenhjelm | |
|---|---|
|  Self-Portrait, 1869 | |
| Born | Berndt Abraham Godenhjelm 30 March 1799 | 
| Died | 14 December 1881 (aged 82) Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire (now Finland) | 
| Nationality | Finnish | 
| Known for | Painting | 
Berndt Abraham Godenhjelm (March 30, 1799 - 14 December 1881) was a Finnish painter.[1]
Personal life
Godenhjelm was born in Mäntyharju. His parents were the county surveyor Adolf Fredrik Godenhjelm and Maria Elizabeth Argillander. His wife was Alexandra Fredrika Hornborg (died 1871). Their son B. F. Godenhjelm became a teacher.[1]
Early career
He studied landscape painting in Stockholm under Per Gustaf von Heideken, and later he studied copper drawing in Saint Petersburg.[2] He initially began his career in the courts, where he worked as an articled clerks deputy judge in 1826. However soon after he transitioned to painting, primarily producing commissioned works for churches and portraits.[1]
Works and memberships

During his career, he painted dozens of altarpieces including ones for the Mäntyharju church, the Lovage church, the Liperi church (1842), the Jämsä church (1848), the Ikaalinen church (1874) and Finnish Lutheran Church in Sitka, Alaska founded by Uno Cygnaeus in 1840. Some of his works have been preserved at the Tampere Art Museum and the National Museum of Finland. Godenhjelm was head teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki drawing school from 1848 to 1869.[3] He was an honorary member of the Artists' Association of Finland in 1864, and a board member of the Finnish Art Society from 1852 to 1868.[1]
Works
 A Girl Reading, 1830 A Girl Reading, 1830
 Portrait of a Young Woman, unknown date Portrait of a Young Woman, unknown date
 Woman Looking in the Mirror Woman Looking in the Mirror
 Justice and Innocence, 1832 Justice and Innocence, 1832
 Transfiguration of Jesus, 1839 Transfiguration of Jesus, 1839
 Self-Portrait in a St. Petersburg atelier, 1830–49 Self-Portrait in a St. Petersburg atelier, 1830–49
 Scene from J. L. Runeberg´s "Moose Hunters", 1840s Scene from J. L. Runeberg´s "Moose Hunters", 1840s
 Galatea's Triumph, 1840s Galatea's Triumph, 1840s
 Ruotsinsalmi is Burning, Scene from the Crimean War, 1855–56 Ruotsinsalmi is Burning, Scene from the Crimean War, 1855–56
 
 The Meeting of Väinämöinen and Joukahainen, Sketch The Meeting of Väinämöinen and Joukahainen, Sketch
 Swedish Soldier and Polish Girl Swedish Soldier and Polish Girl
 
 
![Robert Wilhelm De Geer [fi], 1865](../I/Robert_Wilhelm_De_Geer_by_Godenhjelm.jpg.webp) Robert Wilhelm De Geer, 1865 Robert Wilhelm De Geer, 1865
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Wirilander, Hannele (8 February 2008). "Godenhjelm, Berndt Abraham (1799 - 1881)". Kansallisbiografia. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ↑ "Berndt Godenhjelm". Artist Register. Artists' Association of Finland. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ↑ "Berndt Abraham Godenhjelm". Lähteillä. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- Ilmari Heikinheimo: Finland elämäkerrasto. Helsinki: Werner Söderström Corporation, 1955. Page 232
