Sofus Madsen

Sofus Trygve Madsen (June 11, 1881 – January 19, 1977) was a Norwegian sculptor that has influenced the cityscape of Bergen with a total of 28 major and minor works. He was the son of the teacher and author Theodor Madsen.

Life and work

Madsen was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), but his family moved to Bergen when he was three years old. He settled on Kanonhaugen Street in the Landås neighborhood of Bergen, in a house and studio that he designed himself. It contains up to 180 sculptures, medals, drawings, and tapestries, some of which were made by his wife, Grethe Corneliussen Madsen. Madsen mostly created human figures in a classicist style with poses and expressions reflecting the attitudes and emotions in the themes he addressed. His most prominent work is Merkur (Mercury), which is located on the tower of the Sundt department store on the main square in Bergen, Torgallmenningen. The tower and statue rise above the six-story building itself. Altogether there are 28 sculptures and reliefs by Sofus Madsen in Bergen.