John Christen Johansen

John Christen Johansen, Signing of the Treaty of Versailles, 1919

John Christen Johansen (November 25, 1876 – June 23, 1964) was a Danish-American portraitist, born in Copenhagen and died in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Background

Johansen came to America as an infant. He studied in Cincinnati under Frank Duveneck^[1] and later at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago^[1] where he taught from 1901 to 1911. While a member of the faculty of the Art Institute he met, and later wed, recognized portraitist M. Jean McLane (1878–1964). Before focusing primarily on portraiture Johansen painted landscapes. In 1915 he was elected to the National Academy of Design.

Career

Leaving Chicago in 1919, Johansen moved to Paris where he studied at the Académie Julian where he learned academic technique while being exposed to the ideas of modernism. He maintained friendships with other artists including James Abbott McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent.

At the conclusion of World War I, Johansen was commissioned by the U.S. government to document the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which today hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Other portraits include the original Presidential portrait of President Herbert Hoover^{[2][lower-alpha 1]}, official U.S. Department of Justice portrait of Attorney General Robert H. Jackson (which later became the basis of the official U.S. Supreme Court portrait of Justice Robert H. Jackson), official Vermont State House portrait of Governor Percival Clement, two works in the United States Capitol, and works in the collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, National Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Academy of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Richmond Art Museum.^[1]

Awards

• Young Fortnightly prize, Chicago (1903)
• Honorable mention, Arts Club of Chicago (1903)
• Medal of honor, Chicago Society of Artists (1904)
• Bronze medal, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis (1904)
• Gold medal, Grand Prix Exposition, Buenos Aires (1910)

Notes

1. This portrait was later replaced by the current official White House portrait of Herbert Hoover painted by Elmer Wesley Greene in 1956.^[3]

References

1. Paintings by John C. Johansen and M. Jean McLane January 3 to 23 1911 online retrieved May 24, 2009
2. Timothy Walch (18 July 2013). Herbert Hoover and Dwight D. Eisenhower: A Documentary History. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 160–161. ISBN 978-1-137-33409-1.
3. "Official Portraits of the U.S. Presidents". Retrieved March 12, 2015.

Other sources

• Lewis, R.W.B. and Nancy Lewis. American Characters - Selections From The National Portrait Gallery, Accompanied By Literary Portraits. Yale University: 2000. ASIN B000JZVXP2.
• Robbins, Daniel. The Vermont State House: A History and Guide. The Vermont State House Preservation Committee: 1980.
• Voss, Frederick S. Portraits of the Presidents Revised Edition: The National Portrait Gallery. Rizolli: 2007. ISBN 978-0-8478-2887-6.