Editing Gustav Vigeland (section)

==Early life==
Adolf Gustav Thorsen was born to a family of craftsmen, just outside [[Halse og Harkmark]], a former municipality in [[Mandal, Norway|Mandal]]. His parents were Elesæus Thorsen (1835–1886), a cabinetmaker and Anne Aanensdatter (1835–1907). He had three brothers, of whom [[Emanuel Vigeland]] (originally Thorsen) became a noted artist. As a youth, he was sent to [[Oslo]] where he learned [[wood carving]] at a local school. However, the sudden death of his father compelled him to move back to Mandal to help his family. Gustav lived for a time with his grandparents on a farm called Mjunebrokka in [[Vigeland, Norway|Vigeland]], an old farm in [[Valle, Vest-Agder|Valle]] parish, [[Lindesnes]] municipality in [[Vest-Agder]] county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.no/go/vigeland.html|title=Famous Norwegians Gustav Vigeland|website=www.gonorway.no|access-date=31 March 2018|archive-date=31 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231113253/http://www.gonorway.no/go/vigeland.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He returned to Oslo in 1888, this time determined to become a professional sculptor. He came to the attention of sculptor [[Brynjulf Bergslien]], who supported him and gave him practical training. The following year he exhibited his first work, ''Hagar and Ishmael''. In his 20s, he adopted the new family name Vigeland, from the area where he had briefly lived.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Vigeland spent the years 1891 to 1896 in several voyages abroad, including [[Copenhagen]], [[Paris]], [[Berlin]] and [[Florence]]. In the French capital he frequented [[Auguste Rodin]]'s workshop, while in [[Italy]] he experimented with ancient and [[Renaissance]] artworks. In these years the themes that would later dominate his inspiration - death and the relationship between man and woman - first appeared. He held his first personal exhibitions in Norway in 1894 and 1896, which received notable critical praise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/finearts/sculpture/norway/vigeland.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727165146/http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/finearts/sculpture/norway/vigeland.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |title=Gustav Vigeland |publisher=The Robinson Library |access-date=2014-01-03}}</ref>