Christoffer Foltmar

Christoffer Foltmar (17 October 1718 - 4 April 1759) was a Danish painter of miniatures and organist.

Portrait of Count Hannibal Wedell-Wedellsborg by Christoffer Foltmar, 1751

Early life

Foltmar was the son of the musician Johan Voltmar, and he was a brother to the composers Herman Friedrich Voltmar, Johan Foltmar, and the painter Christian Ulrik Foltmar. He trained both in music and painting and was in both areas pupil of Jacob Fosie who was the painter and organist at the Church of Holmen. Foltmar later specialized in miniature painting in watercolor and enamel.

Music

In 1739 he became organist at Vajsenhus whose organ he and his brother Johan reportedly single-handedly newly built. Vajsenhus organists were poorly paid and Foltmar was promised to follow his mentor Fosie as organist at the Church of Holmen. However Foltmar died first and therefore did not get the coveted office.

Painting

His main work was miniature painting. His clients were the royal family, which had close links with the family Voltmar / Foltmar, and also other members of the court and many of the city rich people of the royal court. He was in 1749 appointed the official miniature painter, and provided a large number of thumbnails in the enamel of the royal family's snuff-boxes, jewelry and other small items. At the same time he was drawing teacher for King Frederick V of Denmark's children.

References

Notes

• Dansk biografisk Lexikon 1905 to 1979