Archives of American Art

Bernhard H. Berntsen papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.bernbern
Creators:
Berntsen, Bernhard H. (Bernhard Hilmar), 1900-1992
Dates:
1931-1987
Languages:
Many newpaper clippings in the scrapbook are in Norwegian.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
(60 items partially microfilmed on 1 reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Sketches, photographs, notes, a scrapbook, and printed material.
Scope and Contents
REEL 2787: A notebook containing sketches and notes on the completion of the Willard Parker Hospital mural, New York City, which Sakari Suzuki painted with the assistance of Berntsen for the Federal Arts Project in 1936-1938; and 9 photographs of the Willard Parker mural, 2 of which show Suzuki and 2 of Suzuki and Berntsen at work. The Willard Parker Hospital was later demolished.
Scope and Contents
UNMICROFILMED: A chronology of Berntsen's career; 24 sketches in pencil and in pen and ink of ironworkers and construction workers, ca. 1933-1934, and of visitors to the National Gallery where Berntsen was a guard, ca. 1966-1971; three letters from Bernsten to his wife Alma, 1947-1952; loose newspaper clippings, ca. 1933-1985, and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings (in Norwegian and English) concerning Berntsen's involvement with the Norwegian Art and Craft Club, and his paintings and sketches of workers at construction sites where he worked as an ironworker, ca. 1931-1976; two exhibition announcements, 1964 and 1986; photographs, ca. 1933-1987, mostly snapshots, include Berntsen painting, Bernsten in his National Gallery of Art guard uniform with Chief Justice Earl Warren, one of students and faculty of the Art Students League (ca. 1933-1934), one of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in New York, several of Berntsen and Suzuki at work on the Willard Parker Hospital mural, ca. 1938, of events sponsored by the Norwegian Art and Craft Club, and of works of art. Also included are photocopies of works of art.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Painter, mural painter, ironworker; Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y. and Va. Born in Oslo, Norway. Berntsen also was the model for the laborer who stands behind Lenin in the controversial Diego Rivera mural for Radio City Music Hall.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 2787 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material on reel 2787 transferred from the National Collection of Fine Arts, who received it from Berntsen, 1975. Unmicrofilmed material donated 1993 and 2002 by Berntsen's great-grandson, Cliff Miller.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mural painting and decoration, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art museum attendance -- Pictorial works Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Norwegian American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muralists -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Suzuki, Sakari, 1900- -- Photographs Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rivera, Diego, 1886-1957 -- Photographs Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kahlo, Frida -- Photographs Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art Students League (New York, N.Y.) -- Students -- Photographs Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art Students League (New York, N.Y.) -- Faculty -- Photographs Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Norwegian Art and Craft Club (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Works Progress Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Willard Parker Hospital (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions