One of the most famous Norwegian painters, Adolph Tidemand, incorporated traditional Bridal Crowns in many pieces of his art:
Tidemand & Gude – Brudeferd i Hardanger 1848 (Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord)Tidemand & Gude – Detail of Brudeferd i Hardanger 1848 (Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord)
Adolph Tidemand became and has remained, one of the prominent painters representing Norwegian Romantic Nationanlism. The movement peaked around 1840-1860, but has had tremendous impact on the Norwegian identity as we know it today!
All the images are clickable, if you would like to study the Bridal Crown Art more closely, some of these are supersized (!) 😀
Adolph Tidemand – Bestemors brudekrone 1865 (Grandmothers Bridal Crown)Adolph Tidemand – Bestemors brudekrone 1865 (Grandmothers Bridal Crown) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Bestemors brudekrone 1867 (Grandmothers Bridal Crown)Adolph Tidemand – Bestemors brudekrone 1867 (Grandmothers Bridal Crown) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Brudepynting 1870 (Adorning the Bride)Adolph Tidemand – Brudepynting 1870 (Adorning the Bride) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Brudepynting på stabburet 1858 (Adorning the Bride in the Storehouse)Adolph Tidemand – Brudepynting på stabburet 1858 (Adorning the Bride in the Storehouse) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Et brudetog gjennom skoven 1873 (Bridal Procession Through The Forest)Adolph Tidemand – Et brudetog gjennom skoven 1873 (Bridal Procession Through The Forest) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Et brudefølge 1854 (A Bridal Procession)Adolph Tidemand – Et brudefølge 1854 (A Bridal Procession) DetailAdolph Tidemand – En brudeferd til vanns 1854 (A Bridal Procession on Water)Adolph Tidemand – En brudeferd til vanns 1854 (A Bridal Procession on Water) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Raad for uraad 1848Adolph Tidemand – Raad for uraad 1848 DetailAdolph Tidemand – Bryllup Hardanger 1870 (Hardanger Wedding)Adolph Tidemand – Bryllup Hardanger 1870 (Hardanger Wedding) DetailAdolph Tidemand – Slagsmål i et bondebryllup 1861 (A Farm Wedding Fight)Adolph Tidemand – Bride from TelemarkAdolph Tidemand – Bride from Hallingdal 1849Adolph Tidemand – Bride from Hardanger 1849Adolph Tidemand – Bride from Voss 1855Adolph Tidemand – Bride from Setesdal 1848 (Attires for 1st & 2nd day of wedding festival)Adolph Tidemand Portrait
While Adolph Tidemand created many fine pieces with contemporary Bridal Crowns, other artist also explored the topic:
Johannes Flintø – Bunad Study, Bride & Groom, Valdres 1822Johannes Flintø – HardangerJohan Dreier – Bride from Fana (Bergen), period 1800-1833Johan Dreier, period 1800-1833 – Groom from Fana (Bergen)Johan Dreier, period 1800-1833 – Bride from Fana (Bergen)Frich – Bride & Groom Sunnmøre 1845Duntze – Hardanger (Perlekrune) 1848J F Eckersberg – Bride & Groom Hardanger 1851J F Eckersberg – Bride & Groom Sunnmøre 1851J F Eckersberg – Bride & Groom Setesdal 1850J F Eckersberg – Adorning the Bride Trøndelag 1851Knud Bergslien – A Wedding Ceremony 1858Knud Bergslien – A Wedding Ceremony 1858, Detail
Even internationally, the Norwegian Bridal Wear became subject to artistic depictions:
Bride Hardanger with Perlekrune (beaded crown ) ca 1900Bride Hardanger with Perlekrune (beaded crown ) ca 1900Bride Nordfjord ca 1900Bride Sogn ca 1900
The Anglo-Dutch artist Nico Jungmann visited Norway in the early 1900s, and these images are from his 1905 book about Norway:
I’m including a few printable collage sheet of Traditional Norwegian Brides:
Find your high quality copies, free for your personal use and enjoyment in the download folder below 🙂
I have plans for several more posts about Norwegian Bridal Crowns, Bunad traditions and other Norwegian traditions. I’ll be sharing these special posts on Sundays, so stay tuned for more Norwegian Sundays to come 😀 Coming up next Sunday is Bridal Crowns in Photography.
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I have used imagery from the following sources for this post:
I enjoyed every one of these images, but the Grandmother’s Crown 1865 near the top of the post took my breath away! All the details of the room, especially Grandmother’s open chest, make you feel you are in the room with them. The wistful look on her face lets you know she is remembering her own wedding, while the almost solemn expression of the older girl says she is seriously thinking about the time she will be wearing the crown. Just beautiful! Thank you!
I am happy to find this post. My father was born in 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents. My grandfather died when I was a baby, but I knew my grandfather until her death in the 60s. I love the national dress and these crowns are wonderful.
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Wings of Whimsy 
love all these wonderful picture-thanks for sharing Barbara
http://barbarasme-ownfolkart.blogspot.com
These are wonderful images,thank you for sharing!
These pictures are fascinating. Thanks for sharing
What a wonderful family tradition, and what a charming history and story. Very few of us have such an background that goes back so far.
I enjoyed every one of these images, but the Grandmother’s Crown 1865 near the top of the post took my breath away! All the details of the room, especially Grandmother’s open chest, make you feel you are in the room with them. The wistful look on her face lets you know she is remembering her own wedding, while the almost solemn expression of the older girl says she is seriously thinking about the time she will be wearing the crown. Just beautiful! Thank you!
I am happy to find this post. My father was born in 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents. My grandfather died when I was a baby, but I knew my grandfather until her death in the 60s. I love the national dress and these crowns are wonderful.
Of course I meant “grandmother”