Heinrich Gustav Ferdinand Holm

Heinrich Gustav Ferdinand Holm, often referred to as H.G.F. Holm (23 April 1803 – 1 May 1861), was a Danish artist and engraver who is remembered for his finely detailed topographical paintings and drawings of Copenhagen and surroundings.

Biography
Holm was born on 23 April 1803 in Berlin, the son of copperplate engraver Jens Hpæ, (1776–1859) and Ane Louise Kohler (1780–1863). He initially followed in the footsteps of his father as an engraver and illustrator. He had almost certainly been a pupil of C. J. Thomsen who insisted on accuracy and detail, qualities which are reflected in his own work. As a result, Holm quickly became a master of his genre, not only as an illustrator but in the difficult technique of watercolour painting. He began to specialize in illustrating prospectuses, often sketching areas and buildings of interest before making multiple copies at home, often with minor variations. He sometimes produced skeleton drawings which he later coloured with watercolour. His subjects were taken mainly from the streets and squares of Copenhagen, comprising castles and churches, the stock exchange, the university, as well as views of the city from vantage points such as Rundetårn. In addition, he produced a series of works covering the surrounding countryside, for example the collection Sjællands yndigste Egne (1826–28). Many of his plates appeared in magazines such as Magazin for Ungdommen (1839–40), its successor Cosmorama (1840–43), and Nyt Magazin for Natur og Menneskekundskab (1848). He also illustrated prospectuses for the Royal Procelain Factory, especially in regard to designs for tea and coffee cups.

On 23 July 1828 in Gentofte, he married to Karen Marie Nielsen (c. 1801 – 1853). They had four children. Despite Holm's high rate of productivity, he constantly suffered from lack of money, which frequently drove him to drink. The resulting vicious cycle encouraged him to sell his works at low prices which explains how he was given the nickname: Fattigholm or "Poor Holm". More recent research indicate that he suffered from mental illness. He died at Almindeligt Hospital in Copenhagen.

Works


Holm's many small works continue to be of considerable value. They are of great topographical and cultural interest as they provide one of the best representations of Golden Age Copenhagen, both in terms of the city as a whole and its individual buildings, including life in the streets. In addition, thanks to their high technical quality and his sense of colour, his watercolours are of high artistic quality.