Gustav Vigeland

Adolf Gustav Thorsen was born on April 11, 1869, in Mandal. After woodcarving training, he studied sculpture in Christiania and Paris, where he was profoundly influenced by Auguste Rodin, and in Florence, studying Michelangelo.

In 1921, Vigeland struck an unprecedented agreement with the city of Oslo: the municipality built him a vast studio and museum complex in exchange for the donation of all his future works. Over the next two decades, Vigeland designed and modeled the entire Vigeland Park inside Frogner Park—comprising 212 granite and bronze sculptures featuring 600 figures, anchored by the iconic 14-meter-high Monolith (Monolitten). He also sculpted the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize medal.