Quite amazingly, a contemporary story parallels that which took place more than 800 years ago. Sadly, this story does not have happy ending....yet.
KNUD LARSEN
BERGSLIEN
1827-1908
Fine Artist and Professor of Art
Birkebeinerne på ski over filefjeld fører Håkon Håkonsson som barn til Trondhjem.
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Knud Larsen Bergslien’s most famous work of art depicting Birkebeinere warriors saving the life of Håkon Håkonsson, the 13th century Norse King who was destined to change history.
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Studied art in France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, England
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Master landscape artist and Art Professor - Bergen, Norway
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Director at the School of Painting, Christiania (now called Oslo) The first art school for women - Some of his students emigrated to America
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Master artist of the life of the Norwegian people,
their history and heroes of the past
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Honored by the King of Sweden with the Vasaorden,
an esteemed order of Knighthood
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Monuments honoring the three famous Bergslien artists now
exists in their home village of Voss, Norway
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A new museum featuring their works is currently
under construction in Eidfjord, Norway
Since May of 1993, Diane Carlson thought her treasured Bergslien original chalk drawing had been traveling the world with the Atlanta Olympic Historical Exhibit. What an honor, she often proclaimed, to share this masterpiece with the world.
In June of 1996, Diane was shocked by the hand-delivered news that her drawing was missing. In fact, she soon learned that the Atlanta Olympic Committee was not aware of the drawing's whereabouts for up to two years!
Documentation shows that this work of art was the most valuable item in the entire exhibit - an exhibit that displayed rare Olympic memorabilia dating to 1886. One would expect security to be extremely tight. Nothing else was missing from the hundreds of items on loan. Because the trail was so cold by the time Ms. Carlson was notified, there was virtually no evidence as to whether the drawing was lost or stolen. The Atlanta Police, the FBI, IFAR and all other Art Loss Organizations have been notified.
Much like the Norwegian Civil War of 1206, a grueling 4 year Civil Court case erupted between Ms. Carlson and those responsible for this tragic loss. The case went to trial in Atlanta in March, 2000. Those responsible were forced to be accountable but the work of art is still missing and Ms. Carlson is hopeful that someday it will be recovered.
DUE TO THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, A LIMITED EDITION OF THE FAMOUS BERGSLIEN WORK OF ART HAS BEEN PRODUCED.
PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THESE PRINTS IS BEING USED TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of this cherished work of art...Please contact Diane Carlson
