ERIK MOGENS CHRISTIAN VANTORE
(Danish, 1895-1977)
INTERIOR WITH TULIPS AND CHAIR
Oil on Canvas
23.5 x 27.5 Inches
Signed Lower Left

Born March 16, 1895 to Danish parents in Copenhagen, Eric Mogens Christian Vantore first studied with his father, the notable painter Hans Christian Vantore (1861-1928) who had studied with P.S. Kroyer and Lauritz Tuxen- both central figures in the Skagen Plein Air School, the most influential art movement in Denmark at the time. Mogens’ mother was the daughter of the well-known French art dealer P.B. Le Fleure. With this artistic background, Mogens was in contact with many well known artists of the time and became motivated to paint at an early age. At 14, he started formal training at the Technical School in Copenhagen where he was inspired by the Post-Impressionists, particularly Gauguin, Van Gogh and Cezanne. Vantore's strong palette of greens, yellows, violets and blues was to become the signature of his work and only rarely did he stray from this boldness of colour. Vantore’s first public exhibition, at which he exhibited 25 landscapes and portraits, took place in 1917 when the artist was only seventeen. The young Vantore was immediately successful during these early years, receiving both commercial and critical acceptance. In 1923, he moved to France with his first wife and settled close to Paris in Nogent Sur Marne, in the house of the French painter Watteau. Once again, the artist found enthusiastic commercial and critical success, with many of his Paris exhibitions completely sold out. Upon his return to Denmark in 1925, Vantore became a regular exhibitor at the Royal Danish Academy. Vantore’s first wife died in 1930. He remarried in 1932 to Nanna and during the following years painted with a new inner strength inspired by their vibrant relationship. Escaping the hectic Bohemian life of Copenhagen and Paris, the couple settled in the central part of Jylland, in the village of Roe, where Vantore found himself able to work more consistently in the peaceful, rural surroundings.  While working in Roe, Vantore painted prolifically, focusing on fresh and loosely-painted views of the surrounding countryside.  During the latter part of his life he moved to a small village just north of Copenhagen and travelled frequently to Spain where he painted some very refreshing and airy works.

Reference:

Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Vol. XIV, p.45; Kunstlexicon, Thieme-Becker, Vol. 34, p.102; Hartmann, Weilbach, Dansk Kunstnerlexikon; Davenport’s Art Reference Guide, 2003/4 Edition, p.2070; et al.