Israel B. Melchior

Israel B. Melchior

Israel Berendt Melchior (12 May 1827 – 7 September 1893) was a Danish engineer, manufacturer and amateur photographer. He is remembered in particular for the photographs he took of Hans Christian Andersen.

Career

Born on 12 May 1827, Melchior was educated as a civil engineer. In 1874, he bought the Valdemarshaab paper factory, just north of Køge, for 60,000 kroner after it had been declared bankrupt as a result of a flood in 1872. By 1875, he had completely renovated the plant and in addition had built Søvang, a large, Italian-styled director's residence, adjacent to the factory. However, the factory was totally destroyed by fire in October of the same year and was never rebuilt.[1] Melchior lived in the magnificent villa from 1875 to 1884 together with his wife (and cousin) Johanne Melchior (1848-1911) with whom he had four children. They were an extremely sociable couple who entertained frequently, sometimes arranging soirées and even short plays in their home.[2]

Amateur photographer

Melchior was a keen amateur photographer. When he built Søvang, he had the upper floor specially designed to accommodate a large photographic studio with an overhead window as well as a glass wall facing east.[2] In particular, he photographed the annual family gatherings at Rolighed, the family mansion on Østerbro just outside Copenhagen. A number of artists and authors would also take part in the gatherings, the most famous being Hans Christian Andersen who got to know the family in 1862 and was a frequent visitor until he died there in 1875. Melchior took a number of photographs of family groups together with Andersen from 1867, as well as some portraits.[3][4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "En start på Køges industrialisering", Køge Archiverne. (Danish). Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Fra direktørbolig til undervisningssted", Køge Archiverne. (Danish). Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  3. ↑ Nicolaj Bøgh, "H.C. Andersens sidste dage", H.C. Andersen Information. (Danish) Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "I Was Posing for The Photographer Today - Twenty Portraits of H.C. Andersen", Odense City Museums. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
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