Peder Severin Krøyer was a Danish painter known for his glowing beach scenes and the Skagen artists group. Born in Norway in 1851, he was raised in Copenhagen by foster parents and started art lessons very young. He finished the Royal Danish Academy at nineteen with medals and a scholarship.
His career grew fast. He showed at Charlottenborg and gained a strong patron in Hirschsprung. Krøyer traveled through Europe, studied in Paris with Léon Bonnat, and picked up ideas from Monet and the other impressionists.
In 1882 he reached Skagen and made it his summer home, painting the beaches, fishermen and the lively artist crowd. He married Marie in 1889, and she appeared often in his work.
Krøyer’s health declined and he slowly went blind, but he kept painting. He died in Skagen in 1909, leaving behind beloved works like Summer Evening on Skagen Beach.