Emma Thomsen

She exhibited 130 works over the course of her career. Some of her pieces were purchased by the National Gallery of Denmark, Christian VIII, and Adam Wilhelm Moltke, among others. She was awarded several prizes and scholarships, including the Neuhausen Prize.

Training under Johan Laurentz Jensen is recorded. Anthonore Christensen is recorded as having studied under Emma Thomsen. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are floral. Places of work recorded in the authority are Copenhagen. Work by Emma Thomsen is recorded in the collections of Statens Museum for Kunst.

• Name — Emma Augusta Thomsen • Born — 7 August 1820 • Birthplace — Copenhagen, Denmark • Died — 6 November 1897 • Place of death — Copenhagen, Denmark • Burial Place — Holmens Kirkegård • Occupation — Painter

Emma Augusta Thomsen was born on 7 August 1820 in Copenhagen. She was the daughter of the Anna Kirstine Ohlsen and Emanuel Thomsen, a hotel owner. From a young age, she drew landscapes, botanical still life drawings, and figure compositions. She was introduced to flower painting by Johan Laurentz Jensen but received instruction from him for a very brief period of time. Thomsen was largely self-taught, and developed as a flower painter by producing studies from nature and copying Dutch still lifes of flowers and fruit. In 1844, Thomsen made her debut with a still life featuring fruit, a study of birds, and two flower paintings. From that year on, she was a regular contributor to the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition. Over the course of her career she exhibited 130 works in 49 shows. In addition to exhibiting at the Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition, she also presented her work in Stockholm and at the 1895 Copenhagen Women's Exhibition. She sold two of her paintings to the Royal Painting Collection: Roser og Ipomæa and En Blomsterkrans, ophængt paa Bøgegrene. In addition to working as a painter, Thomsen taught other painters, including Anthonore Christensen. In 1861, she was awarded the Neuhausen Prize for the En Kurv med Blomster i det frie. The painting was subsequently bought by Count A.W. Moltke. In 1863 she was awarded the Sødrings Legat scholarship, which gave her a stipend to produce her art, and in 1869 she was awarded a travel scholarship. She died on 6 November 1897 in Copenhagen and was buried at Holmen Cemetery. Like many successful flower painters of her era, she never married.

• Illustration — Opstilling med roser på en stenkarm, oil on paper, 1843 • Illustration — Fuchsiaer og høstanemoner, oil on canvas, 1888 • Illustration — Bøgeblade, oil on canvas • Illustration — Rosen und Maiglöckchen, oil on wood