Hans
Skalagard is a world renowned marine
painter. He has been described as a
“living legend” by art critics. This
man is a descendant of Vikings and was
born in the Faeroe Islands of Denmark in
1924.
He began painting at the age of 8, and
at the age of 14 began to carry on the
family’s seafaring tradition, becoming
an apprentice seaman on a square rigged
ship (such as “County of Linlithgow” in
the painting which is for sale). Thus,
he began his experiences that allowed
him to create accurate paintings of such
ships.
Hans grew in experience and served on
merchant ships during World War II
convoys. He survived the sinking of
four (4) ships in six (6) years of this
war, enabling him to draw on these
experiences and paint a series of ten
“North Atlantic Convoy Scenes”.
Hans had initially moved to the United
States in 1943 but returned to Denmark
after the war to study at the Royal
Academy in Copenhagen. In New York, he
had a one man show in 1954, where he had
studied with the marine painter, Anton
Otto Fisher.
In 1955, he became an American citizen
and soon after married Mignon, who
became his business manager.
In 1961, his works were exhibited at the
Legion of Honor in San Francisco,
California. He remained in California,
becoming a fixture in his Carmel,
California gallery, “Skalagard’s
Square-Rigger”.
He has had numerous one man shows both
in the United States and in Europe. His
paintings are hung in many public
buildings. Examples of such locations
include the Naval Post Graduate School
in Monterey, California, the Los Angeles
County Maritime Museum, the Allen Knight
Maritime Museum and galleries in Norway,
Denmark and his native Faeroe Islands.
His paintings are owned by admirals and
collectors world over. He is the holder
of six gold medals for his work.
Hans spent over thirty years at sea and
his paintings accurately reflect this
knowledge of sailing ships and the
weather at sea.
This painting of the “County of
Linlithgow” most certainly is alive with
action in the finest expression of Hans
Skalagard’s art. Mr. Skalagard is
active at this date and currently, with
his wife Mignon, resides in Petaluma,
California.
