Kristian Zahrtmann - Later Artistic Career

Later Artistic Career

He made a number of portraits of his parents, including one of his father in 1887 and one of his mother, who played a significant role in his life, in 1899-1901. These, as well as a large format painting of both parents in their living room from 1895–1901, are in the collection of the Bornholm Art Museum.

In 1900 he wintered over in Portofino where he painted the color-drenched landscapes "Havnen i Portofino, 1900" ("Harbour in Portofino, 1900") (1900) and "Min frokostbord i Portofino, 1900" ("My Lunch Table in Portofino, 1900") (1900).

He won a bronze medallion at the World Exhibition in Paris 1900.

In his later life he painted a series of picture based on men in mythology: "Prometheus" (1905), "Sokrates and Alkibides" (1907, 1911), and "Adam in Paradise" (1913–14). The large format "Adam in Paradise" is suggestively homoerotic, with its vital, young, muscular Adam coyly leaning back in a lush, color-drenched botanic paradise, while the snake is arched halfway up his leg, its tongue darting, and Adam conceals himself casually with a sprig of fig leaves.

He also painted a number of self portraits in his later years, including one painted in 1913, which is considered one of his finest works. It is in the collection of the National Historic Museum at Frederiksborg Palace.

He bought land and built a house on Fuglebakken in Frederiksberg, which was designed by Hans Koch and Zahrtmann himself. He called the house "Casa d’Antino", and moved in autumn 1912.

He appeared in a 1913 silent-era documentary film about himself entitled "Kristian Zahrtmann", which was directed by Sophus Wangøe, also known as Sophus Wangöe.

In June 1917 he was hospitalised with appendicitis. After an apparent improvement his condition worsened, and he died on 22 June in Frederiksberg. He was buried in Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen. A relief with the theme of "Leonora Christina leaves the Prison" decorates his grave. The relief was drawn by architect Thorvald Bindesbøll and painter Joakim Skovgaard, and was carved from Bornholm granite by Larsen Stevns.

In Civita d’Antino a memorial plaque was set into the wall of the Cerroni house near the town gate. A monument with a statue of Zahrtmann was erected on the open plaza in front of his house, and the plaza is named after him.

He never married. It is widely reported that he was a latent homosexual.

A portrait of him by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1899) is found in the Hirschsprung Collection.