Edvard Eriksen
Danish·1876–1959
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Edvard Eriksen (1876-1959) was a Danish sculptor who created Copenhagen's most famous landmark: The Little Mermaid (1913). Born on the island of Bornholm, he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and worked primarily as a portrait sculptor and decorator.
The Little Mermaid bronze, commissioned by Carl Jacobsen (of the Carlsberg brewing family) after being moved by a Royal Theatre ballet adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, sits on a rock at Langelinie harbor. It's been vandalized numerous times (beheaded twice, arm sawed off, painted) but remains one of the world's most visited statues, drawing over a million visitors annually.
Sculptures by Edvard Eriksen
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About Edvard Eriksen
Edvard Eriksen sculpted the bronze Little Mermaid (1913) in Copenhagen. It was commissioned by brewer Carl Jacobsen and modeled partly after ballerina Ellen Price, who performed the role at Copenhagen's Royal Theatre.
The statue sits on a rock at Langelinie harbor in Copenhagen, Denmark. Despite being only about 4 feet tall, it draws over a million visitors annually and has become Denmark's most recognized symbol.
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