Jais Nielsen

Ceramic baptismal font by Jais Neilsen in Randers Sankt Mortens Church. Johannes Knud Ove Jais-Nielsen (23 April 1885 – 8 November 1961) was a Danish painter, designer and ceramist, best known for the religious figure groups that he designed for the Royal Copenhagen pottery.

Biography Nielsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and was married to artist Ville Jais Nielsen (née Oppenheim). He died at Gentofte Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark and is buried at Mariebjerg Cemetery.

Artistic career Stained glass windows by Jais Nielsen in the Flintholm Church, Copenhagen.

Nielsen studied painting at the Kunstnernes Frie Studieskoler under Kristian Zahrtmann and Johan Rohde, but abandoned the academic style under the influence of modern art that he saw on his study trips. Nielsen made several excursions to important art centres, travelling to Berlin (1909) and Paris (1911–1914). In 1920 he travelled to Italy, where he took a particular interest in the Renaissance art. His trip to Italy in 1920 was the inspiration for monumental works such as Brylluppet i Kana (Marriage at Cana). which included the Good Samaritan and several versions of Jacob wrestling with the Angel. His sculptures were widely applauded and, for a time, their fame overshadowed that of his paintings. In 1986 Nielsen's painting Uscita! was the only work by a Danish artist represented in the Futurismo & Futurismi exhibition in Venice. Also in 1986, there was a retrospective exhibition of his works at Galerie 1900-2000 in Paris. In 2009, a large exhibition of his works was held at Bornholms Kunstmuseum. Museums holding works by Nielsen include the National Art Museum of Denmark,

Jais Nielsen was awarded Eckersberg Medal (1929) and the Thorvaldsen Medal (1948).