Christening in Tanum Church
Harriet Backer · 1892
Why it's great
A family gathers in a small wooden church for a baby's christening, with light falling through the windows. Harriet Backer painted the inside of the old church at Tanum, near Oslo, with a quiet, glowing light on the old wood. It's one of her best-known paintings and a favorite in Norway. It shows how she could make a sacred space feel warm.
Where to see it
📍 National Gallery of NorwayOslo, Norway
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Harriet Backer was born in Holmestrand, Norway, and became one of the country's greatest painters. She studied in Munich and Paris and became famous for her glowing pictures of rooms and churches. She also ran a painting school that trained many young artists. She died in Oslo in 1932.
