Johan Sebastian Welhaven

Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven, (December 22, 1807- October 21, 1873), Norwegian poet and critic, was born in Bergen, the son of a pastor, in 1807.

He first studied theology, but from 1828 onwards devoted himself to literature. In 1840 he became reader and subsequently professor of philosophy at Christiania, and delivered a series of impressive lectures on literary subjects. In 1836 he visited France and Germany; and in 1858 he went to Italy to study archaeology. His influence was extended by his appointment as director of the Society of Arts.

Welhaven made his name as the representative of conservatism in Norwegian literature in the 19th century. In a violent attack on Henrik Wergeland's poetry he opposed the theories of the extreme nationalists. He desired to see Norwegian culture brought into line with that of other European countries, and he himself followed the romantic tradition, being most closely influenced by J.L. Heiberg. He represented clearness and moderation against the extravagances of Wergeland, and is now mostly known for this feud and for the poem "Republikanerne" ("The Republicans"). He was also, famously, for years romantically involved with Wergeland's younger sister Camilla, whose married name would later be Camilla Collett.

He gave an admirable practical exposition of his aesthetic creed in the 1834 sonnet cycle "Norges Dæmring" ("The Dawn of Norway"). He published a volume of "Digte" ("Poems") in 1839; and in 1845 "Nyere Digte" ("New Poems"). Other poems followed in 1848, 1851 and 1859.

In the 1840s, Welhaven was a central figure of the Norwegian national romanticism movement [Anne Lene Berge, Eli Lindtner Næss and Øystein Rottem: "Impuls: Norsk for VK1 og VK2", Cappelen 2001. Page 68.] . Welhaven was instrumental in beginning the career of Hans Gude — a romanticist painter — as it was Welhaven who first recommended that Gude should attend the Academy of Art in Düsseldorf.cite book | last = Haverkamp | first = Frode | others = trans. Joan Fuglesang | title = Hans Fredrik Gude: From National Romanticism to Realism in Landscape | accessdate = 2008-01-07 | language = Norwegian]

References

*1911