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Carl Christian Constantin Hansen (Constantin
Hansen) (November 3, 1804-1880) was one of the
painters associated with the "Golden Age of
Denmark|Danish Painting".  He was born in Rome,
the son of portrait painter Hans Hansen.  The
family soon moved to Vienna where the widow of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart became godmother at his
christening.  The family moved to Copenhagen
within his first year, where he was raised.

He entered the architecture school of the Royal
Danish Academy of Art (Det Kongelige Danske
Kunstakademi) at 12 years of age, but changes his
course of study to painting at the age of 21.  He
began his training under Christoffer Wilhelm
Eckersberg in 1828.  He lost both his parents at
about this time to typhus, and became the sole
supporter of his younger sisters.  He took over
several commissions that had belonged to his
father, including some copies to the Portrait
Collection at Frederiksborg Palace and decorative
paintings to Christiansborg Castle.

In 1835 he received a two-year stipend to travel
abroad, which was followed up by an additional
year's stipend.  His travels took him through
Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Nuremberg and Munich on
his way to Italy, where he travelled extensively
and stayed longer periods in Rome, Naples and
Pompeii.  In Italy he met fellow Dane, the
sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.  He travelled with
other Danish artists, including Jørgen Roed,
Christen Købke and decorative painter Georg
Christian Hilker.
The Copenhagen Art Union (Kunstforening)
commissioned a painting from Hansen in 1837.  He
provided them with "A Company of Danish Artists in
Rome" (Et Selskab af danske Kunstnere i Rom).  In
addition he painted Italian folk scenes, and
studies of Roman antiquities and architecture that
reflect Eckersberg's spirit.

After eight years in Italy he finally returned to
Denmark, staying briefly in Munich where he
studied the technique of fresco painting, in
anticipation of a commission, along with Georg
Hilker, to decorate the University of Copenhagen's
vestibule on Frue Plads.  This work continued from
1844-1853.  Hansen painted the mythological
figures, while Hilker painted the decorations and
frameworks.   

He was deeply interested in literature and
mythology, and inspired by art historian N.L.A.
Høyen, he tried to recreate a national history
painting|historical painting based on Norse
mythology.  He painted also many
altarpiece|altarpieces and portrait|portraits,
including the historical The Constitutional
Assembly (Den grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling)
between 1861-1865.

He married Magdalene Barbara Købke in 1846, and
they had nine children.  In 1854 he was named
professor at the Academy, but first became member
of the Academy in 1864.  One of his daughters,
Elise Konstantin Hansen, became a recognized
painter, and another Kristiane Konstantin Hansen,
became a tapestry weaver.

===Internal links===
commons|Constantin Hansen
List of Danish painters