Zacho, Chr. (1843-1913)

Full name: Peter Mörch Christian Zacho.

Born on Mar. 31. 1843 in Grenaa, Denmark.

After becoming a journeyman painter he was admitted to The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Copenhagen) in 1862 and graduated from there in 1867. Apart from that he took lessons from the famous artists Janus la Cour and P.C. Skovgaard as well as from Camille Bernier and Leon Bonnat in Paris (1874 and 1875-76).

He made numerous study tours, primarily to Italy and France, but also to Switzerland, Norway and Sweden.

In recognition of his talent and work he won several prizes and awards, starting with the Södring Prize (1871). In 1878-79 he won The Academy Award and he won the Mention Honorable at the World Exhibitions (Paris) in 1889. The year after he won a prize in Berlin and in 1895 he won an award in Chicago.

Zacho debuted at the esteemed Charlottenborg Spring Exhibitions in 1865 where he exhibited almost continuously henceforth. Apart from exhibiting in Denmark he was an extremely frequent exhibitor abroad, e.g. at The World Exhibitions (Paris) in 1878, 1889 and 1900, at the “Erste Internationaler Kunstausstellung” (Vienna) in 1882 and at The Glasgow School Artists of Denmark (Chicago) in 1893 and 1895.

Christian Zacho went through a very thorough education. First he was trained in landscape painting in the tradition of Janus la Cour, P.C. Skovgaard and Vilhelm Kyhn. In 1873, however, he made a study tour to Italy and especially to The World Exhibitions in Paris, accompanied by Anton Thiele, Otto Haslund and Chr. Blache. Here he was impressed by the French manner of landscape painting, which made a lasting impression on him.

Apart from landscapes he also made some portraits where a clear influence from the Skagen Painters is revealed.