Ernst Schmiegelow
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Ernst Carl August Schmiegelow | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Schmiegelow, drawn by Adolph Lønborg circa 1875 | |
| Born | 27 February 1826 |
| Died | 4 September 1888 (aged 62) |
| Known for | Painting, Politics |
Ernst Carl August Schmiegelow (27 February 1826 – 4 September 1888), or just Ernst Schmiegelow, was a Danish master painter and politician.
Ernst Schmiegelow was born in Fuirendal, near Sorø, on 27 February 1826. His parents were Joachim Friedrich David Schmiegelow (1783–1830), a war assessor and doctor, and Anna Metta Edebohl, née Bøtcher (1792–1867).[1]
In 1830, his father died, and he, his mother, and six siblings moved to Vordingborg, where Schmiegelow grew up in modest circumstances. He attended his town's Latin school until he was 14.[2]
Youth
After his Lutheran confirmation, Schmiegelow began training as a painter in Copenhagen. He was apprenticed to the widow of Master Painter Hambro at Gammel Strand, whose business at that time was managed by Master Painter J. Q. Harboe. Ernst learned to paint and attended the drawing school at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1846, Schmiegelow became a journeyman and travelled abroad. He worked for some time in Leipzig, but reached Vienna later in 1846. In 1848, he returned from Vienna to volunteer in the First Schleswig War that had broken out in Denmark, despite plans to travel to Constantinople and Egypt.
Initially serving as a private soldier in the 2nd Jäger Corps, he took part in the campaign of the first year. However, he was not permitted to remain a volunteer: a law issued on 12 February 1849 made him liable for compulsory service, and he was drafted for the final two years of the campaign.
After the war had ended, Schmiegelow found employment with C. B. Lübschitz, for whom he carried out painting work on estates in Sweden and on Funen, as well as Old Carlsberg.[2]
Middle years and business
In 1853, Schmiegelow started his own roller blind manufacturing business (by means of lithography) in Copenhagen. The business was opened on Store Kongensgade, and he produced lithographed roller blinds, featuring landscapes, images of castles, and similar motifs. As this was something new at the time, the business prospered.
From 1853 until 1861, he worked in partnership with Andreas Frederik Dahl, an old friend of his, but after 1861 he ran the business alone. It quickly became one of the largest painting businesses in Copenhagen. Schmiegelow merged his business in 1884 with that of master painter C. C. Møllmann. At the beginning of 1888, Møllmann took full control of the business.
On 4 June 1858, Schmiegelow married Thecla Saurbrey, whom he had known since his youth in Vordingborg. The children born of his marriage all died in early childhood.[2]