Christian Molsted
(1862-1930) was a Danish artist who specialized in marine painting. He is best known for his painting of the frigate Niels Juel during the Battle of Helgoland on 9 May 1864.
Born in Dragør on 15 October 1862, Mølsted was the son of fisherman Andreas Adolf Nikolaj Mølsted and Ane Hans-Nielsdatter. With financial support from a relative, he completed his school education in Copenhagen at Det tekniske Selskab where he graduated in 1879. After sailing to Madeira that summer on the frigate Jylland, he entered the Danish Academy in October 1880 with mentors such as Frederik Vermehren, Jorgen Roed, Julius Exner and Carl Bloch. During his studies, Mølsted travelled to Paris and London where he was able to observe contemporary art. He graduated from the Academy with a painting diploma in January 1885. He first exhibited in December 1884 and thereafter at the spring exhibitions. In 1889, he was awarded the Neuhausen Prize for his Skibe i Havnen ved Larsens Plads. His subjects are for the most part taken from the coasts around Copenhagen or in Jutland. Among the artist favorite subjects were the heroic battles of captains Tordenskjold and Willemoes. Historical details, as well as detailed information about the ships, was provided for the paintings by Otto Dorge, a Dragør local expert. Later in life, he also made genre paintings. Mølsted's works were widely appreciated for his perfectionist approach, his attention to historical detail and his ability to bring things to life. He died on 10 May 1930 in Dragør.
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