Hans Richard Angell Bordewich was a multi-talented man. He was a writer, photographer, and painter. Over his short life, he produced many works. He particularly owed a great deal of his livelihood to his photography, which gave him a living during his time in Michigan. Northern Norway was his favorite subject, both in art and writing. He rarely painted scenes that were of places other than Lofoten. He was a naturalist, preferring it to the modern life of the time, which he said was not "his piece of cake."
Richard Bordewich was born January 17, 1866 to Hans Henrik and Kaja Dorothea Bordewich. He was their fourth child. They lived in Henningsvær, Norway. The town is located in the Lofoten Islands just north of the Arctic Circle.
His initial education came from a governess his parents hired. At the age of 13, he went to Christiansund for his Latin school education. He finished schooling in 1881. He excelled in drawing and arts while in school. Because of this, he went to Oslo, then called Christiana, to attend an art school led by von Hanno. Plans were that he would use his schooling to become an architect. However, during his schooling he fell in love with painting instead. He ended up taking a course in painting led by Knut Bergslein.
After finishing the course, he returned home to Henningsvær, continuing to paint there. In 1885, he traveled to Bergen for a time, painting more there before returning home.
Because he could not make money as a painter at the time, he had to find another way to make a living. He chose to learn how to be a telegraph operator, as they were much in demand at the time. He served as the telegraph operator for the area for the next four years. During this time, he also took up the skill of
photography.
In the spring of 1888, he moved to the US. He settled in Norway, Michigan and starting a business there as a photographer. He also began managing Eskil's Iron Mountain gallery in September of that year, soon becoming part and then full owner before he finally sold it in 1896.
It is our suspicion that he moved to America and settled in that area because his father's brother, Henry (Lars Nicholai) Bordewich lived there.
In 1890, while living in Michigan, Richard married Jensine Mikelsen, who was also an immigrant from Borge, Norway. She was born February 15th, 1865.
The couple had a son named Eivind Angell Bordewich on September 17th, 1891.
He returned to Norway in 1896, settling in Oslo with his wife and son. He began to do portraits and charcoal art for patrons, and this became the main source of income for the family. He also began to write short stories. One of his stories was published in a book of collected works: "Trips Out: Older Northern Norwegian Stories in Selection" edited by Kari Paalsrud and Magnar Mikkelsen. He managed to get a book of his own works made, entitled "Nordefter leden," which was published posthumously in 1898.
In 1898, Richard became ill with influenza. There had been a pandemic of the illness that had started in Russia in 1889. It soon spread out into the rest of Europe, including spreading down into Norway. Richard succumbed to his illness on May 9. He was only 32 at the time. We think his mother, Kaja came to take care of Richard when he fell ill, and then stayed to look after his son after his death. For more about the Bordewichs,
see this post.
Richard's paintings are mostly owned by family members. His descendants still live in Norway.
Small painting of a Lofoten Island harbor by Richard Angell Bordewich, in the collection of D.E. Bordewick.
Large painting of a ship in a Lofoten Island harbor by Richard Angell Bordewich, in the collection of D.E. Bordewick.
