Welcome to The Vilhelm Hammershøi Digital Archive (ViHDA)
ViHDA is the outcome of a five-year research project dedicated to exploring the techniques and materials of the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916). Initiated in 2020 and led by the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK), the project brought together scientists, painting conservators, imaging specialists, art historians, and digital experts. In collaboration with Danish and international museums as well as private collectors, c. 140 of Hammershøi’s paintings have been examined through systematic visual, technical, and scientific study.
Using advanced imaging and material analysis, the project has generated invaluable insights into Hammershøi’s working methods, from his student years at the Academy to his final paintings. Each painting underwent detailed visual examination followed by a range of analytical techniques.
Multiband imaging – including infrared reflectography and X-radiography – made it possible to look beneath the painted surface, revealing underdrawings, changes, and features invisible to the naked eye. X-radiographs also provided data for weave maps, enabling the study of canvas structures. Elemental analysis through macro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (MA-XRF) identified pigments and colour compositions, while scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS) offered insights into ground layers. In selected cases, fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were also employed to identify organic compounds. Finally, comments and notes concerning the art historical context including provenance and relations between the art works have been included in the archive.
On this site you can explore these results, compare works in an advanced image viewer, and download thousands of technical images (see “Use this data” in the menu).
Project partners
The project was carried out in partnership with The Hirschsprung Collection, Ordrupgaard and The David Collection, and with contributions from Art Museum Brandts, Fuglsang Art Museum, The Glyptotek, Vejen Art Museum, Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, Randers Art Museum, Willumsen’s Museum, Nationalmuseum Stockholm, The Finnish National Gallery, National Museum Norway, Art Gallery of Ontario, Art Institute of Chicago, J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Conservation Institute, The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo and a number of private owners.
SMK gratefully acknowledges the support of the Augustinus Foundation and the New Carlsberg Foundation.
Project team
Troels Filtenborg, Pauline Lehmann Banke, Gianluca Pastorelli, Annette Rosenvold Hvidt, Veronica Biolcati, Kristian Præstholm, Oscar Sakuya Ebata Tougaard Holm, Tanja Larsen, Sofie Wikkelsø Jensen, Peter Nørgaard Larsen, Karoline Hvalsøe, Remy Holm, Jonas Heide Smith, Merete Sanderhoff, Niels Mortensen, Annette Ortiz, Jørgen Wadum, Loa Ludvigsen, Sarah Charlie Tarbye and Anne Haack Christensen.
