Johann Berthelsen

Johann Berthelsen came to painting by way of the opera stage — a Danish-born baritone who toured America singing leading roles, taught voice at two conservatories, and then, when the Depression dried up the music work, turned a lifelong hobby into one of the most recognizable bodies of New York painting: the city in falling snow, soft, atmospheric, and warm.

Berthelsen’s market is broad and active. Revere Auctions offers free auction estimates: photographs of the front, back, and signature are all we need to tell you what your painting is worth.

Who Was Johann Berthelsen?

Berthelsen was born in Copenhagen in 1883, the son of a singer, and emigrated to America as a child. His first career was entirely musical: he trained at the Chicago Musical College, sang professionally across the country, and taught voice at the Chicago and Indianapolis conservatories, numbering future stars among his students.

He had always drawn and painted, taking instruction where he could find it, and when he moved to New York he fell in with painters of the city scene — the snow painter Guy Wiggins among his friends. In the early 1930s, with music students scarce, he committed to painting full time.

The gamble worked. His gentle, pastel-toned snow scenes of Fifth Avenue, Washington Square, and Central Park found a devoted public and sold steadily for forty years. He painted into old age and died in 1972, leaving one of the most beloved — and most collected — visions of New York winter.

What Did Berthelsen Paint?

The signature Berthelsen is a New York snowfall: Washington Square under the arch, Fifth Avenue with the Public Library or St Patrick’s, Central Park lamplight — painted softly, almost lyrically, in oil on canvas or board. He painted the subjects many times at modest sizes, along with pastels of the same world.

His singer’s sense of mood is the constant: where his friend Wiggins painted the city’s energy, Berthelsen painted its quiet. Collectors respond to exactly that.

How Much Is My Johann Berthelsen Painting Worth?

Several things determine what a work by Johann Berthelsen brings at auction:

• Subject — the classic New York landmarks in snow are what his market wants; the best-known views lead
• Medium and size — oils on canvas stand above oils on board, and both above the pastels; larger examples are scarcer and priced accordingly
• Quality within the run — he painted his subjects often — freshness of touch and atmosphere separate the strong examples
• Condition — boards and pastels each have their own condition issues; clean, unfaded examples are rewarded
• Authenticity — popular, often-repeated subjects attract imitation; the signature and materials deserve a specialist look

The honest answer is that no two are alike, and the difference between an ordinary example and an exceptional one is a conversation with a specialist, not a chart. Send us photographs through our free auction estimate form — front, back, signature, and any labels — and we will tell you what you have.

The Market for Berthelsen

Berthelsen trades constantly at auction — one of the most liquid names in American city painting — typically in the four figures, with larger canvases and the finest examples reaching five figures in recent years. Demand comes from New York collectors, from American Impressionism generally, and from people who simply love the pictures.

A free estimate places your painting within that active market before you decide what to do with it.

How to Sell a Work by Berthelsen

The strongest results for a Johann Berthelsen painting come at auction, where national and international collectors bid against each other. Revere Auctions offers free, no-obligation auction estimates: send photos and dimensions and our specialists respond with a current market valuation and a recommendation on how to sell. Consigned works are professionally photographed, cataloged, and marketed through our fine art auctions to a worldwide bidder base, and we regularly arrange shipping for consignors across the country. If you need a formal written valuation for insurance or estate purposes, our appraisal and valuation services team can help; you can also read more about how selling at auction works.

Related: American & Western paintings, our fine art department, appraisal services, free auction estimates.

Reviewed by the fine art specialists at Revere Auctions, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Johann Berthelsen: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Johann Berthelsen painting worth?

Typically four figures at auction, with large canvases and the finest examples reaching five figures in recent years. Medium, size, and subject drive the range. Revere Auctions provides free auction estimates from photographs.

What did Johann Berthelsen paint?

New York City in the snow — Washington Square, Fifth Avenue, Central Park — in a soft, atmospheric style, plus pastels of the same subjects. Before painting full time he was a professional opera singer and voice teacher.

Was Berthelsen connected to Guy Wiggins?

They were friends and painted the same snowy New York, but their styles differ: Wiggins is brisk and flag-filled, Berthelsen soft and lyrical. Each is collected in his own right, and correct attribution is straightforward for a specialist.

Where can I sell a Johann Berthelsen painting?

At auction, where his collector base is broad and consistent. Revere Auctions offers free estimates and handles the whole process from cataloguing to settlement.

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