Where was Henrik Ibsen born?
Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien on 20 March 1828. The family lived in Stockmanngården, where his father ran a shop across the street from the town church. Henrik was two years old when the family took over his grandfather’s trading house and moved into the grand Altenburggården. Henrik’s grandfather had made a fortune through grain import and production of spirits. His father expanded the distillery production and was one of Skien’s wealthiest men in the early 1830s. He acquired the estate Venstøp and made large investments in the distillery. However, these investments turned into losses when the government increased alcohol taxes, and in December 1834, creditors with liens on the Ibsen family’s businesses began to demand forced sales of their properties.
What was Henrik Ibsen’s childhood like?
In 1835, Henrik Ibsen’s childhood home was sold, and the family moved to the estate at Venstøp to live there year-round. The Ibsen family continued their upper-class life, with a social circle from the top echelon of society – many of them lived on neighbouring estates to Venstøp. It was previously assumed that Henrik Ibsen grew up in poverty and shame, but new research from the Telemark Museum’s conservator, Jørgen Haave, reveals that the family still had servants and a spacious house with room for guests. The Ibsen family often invited the other members of the elite to parties in Henrik Ibsen’s childhood home.
When did Henrik Ibsen leave Skien?
In 1843, most of the properties from Altenburg’s trading house were sold, and Henrik Ibsen’s father, who had been working as a legal clerk since 1835, was without employment. At the same time, the estate of Venstøp was also put up for forced auction, two days before Henrik turned 15. The estate was bought by a friend of the family who let them stay there until they found another place. Henrik Ibsen was confirmed in Gjerpen Church in October 1843 and moved in November to Grimstad to study to become a pharmacist.
When did Ibsen visit Skien for the last time?
One of Henrik Ibsen’s uncles bought a house on Snipetorp for the family. Henrik Ibsen visited his family only twice after he left home. The last time he was in Skien was in April 1850, when he had debuted as a playwright with the play Catilina.
You can find more information about Henrik Ibsen’s upbringing and family relationships in the book “Familien Ibsen” by conservator Jørgen Haave at the Telemark Museum. The book was published by Museumsforlaget in 2017.
IBSEN ON DIGITAL MUSEUM We have a wide range of objects related to Henrik Ibsen, his family and their circle of friends. Some of these objects can be found published on Digital Museum.
1828: Born March 20th, Stockmanngården
Skien 1835: Moved to the estate of Venstøp
1835-1843: The Ibsen family continued their upper-class life on Venstøp
1843: The Ibsen family is forced to leave Venstøp, moves to Snipetorp. Henrik moves to Grimstad to study to become a pharmacist.
1850: Publishes his first play, Catilina. Moves to Oslo to take his artium exam
1850: First theater premiere at the Christiania Theater: The Giant’s Mountain
1851: Becomes stage director in Bergen
1858: Gets married to Suzannah Thoresen
1859: Son Sigurd is born
1861: Publishes the poem Terje Vigen
1864: Receives a scholarship and leaves Norway. Remains abroad for 27 years
1866: Achieves success with Brand. Receives a lifetime poet’s pension from the Parliament
1867: Peer Gynt is published
1879: A Doll’s House is published
1884: The Wild Duck is published
1891: Moves to Christiania
1894: Little Eyolf is published
1899: When We Dead Awaken is published. It is Ibsen’s last play
1900: Suffers a stroke
1906: Dies on 23 May, buried on 1 June at the honor grove at Our Savior’s cemetery in Oslo
