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The 7 Most Famous Peder Aadnes Paintings, a Gallery Selection
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 7 works by Peder Aadnes in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Peder Aadnes left, the most famous is Chancellor Christopher Hammer (1770), in the collection of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. Close behind it come Andreas Olaus Hammer (1766) and Vicar Martin Wang (1791). Our catalog holds 7 works by Peder Aadnes; the gallery has kept the 7 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
1739 – 1792, Fluberg
Most works: National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
Peder Aadnes's top 10 paintings: the gallery's choice
The museums that keep Peder Aadnes's originals
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Peder Aadnes | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design |
Oslo | 4 | Chancellor Christopher Hammer, Andreas Olaus Hammer, Vicar Martin Wang |
Peder Aadnes decade by decade: the original that defines each
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
Collectors' questions about Peder Aadnes's paintings
Which work is Peder Aadnes most famous for?Reveal the answer
Chancellor Christopher Hammer (1770), National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. Andreas Olaus Hammer (1766) and Vicar Martin Wang (1791) come next.
What age was Peder Aadnes when Chancellor Christopher Hammer was made?Reveal the answer
31 years old: Chancellor Christopher Hammer dates from 1770, and Peder Aadnes was born in 1739.
How many paintings did Peder Aadnes leave?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 7 works by Peder Aadnes, dated from 1766 to 1791.
In which museums do Peder Aadnes's masterpieces hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design (Oslo). The museum table above lists them all.
In which years did Peder Aadnes paint the most famous works?Reveal the answer
In 1790s: 2 of the 7 works on this page were made then, Vicar Martin Wang among them.
What are the first and the last famous originals of Peder Aadnes?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Andreas Olaus Hammer (1766) and the latest Vicar Martin Wang (1791).
Which Peder Aadnes works hang at the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design?Reveal the answer
Chancellor Christopher Hammer, Andreas Olaus Hammer and Vicar Martin Wang: the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo holds 4 of the works on this page.
Peder Aadnes: life and work
The Life of Peder Aadnes
Peder Pedersen Aadnes was a Norwegian rural painter born in Odnes in what is now Søndre Land Municipality. His early training began at the age of fifteen as an apprentice when Eggert Munch painted the altarpiece in the church in Fluberg. Later, he completed a three-month apprenticeship under the painter and drawing teacher Niels Thaaning. In 1772, Aadnes married Ingeborg Trøgstad and took over the family farm.
While managing his farm, his painting work took him to various locations throughout eastern Norway. His repertoire included portraits and the decoration of churches, farm interiors, and furnishings. He is known for a cheerful Rococo style that featured silk-clad upper-class people in settings such as castles and parks. His works often depicted carefully cultivated trees, nobility, and specific shades of blue.
Artistic Legacy and Works
Aadnes's paintings can be found in several locations across eastern Norway, including:
- Lunde Church in Nordre Land Municipality
- Nordsinni Church
- Bagn Church
- The Myttingstua building at Maihaugen
His murals in the Thomle building, now held at the Lands Museum, feature fantasy landscapes and specific details, such as a suitor placing his hand on a lover's bodice while a chaperon sleeps, and a boy peeking under the skirts of a lady on a swing. Because Aadnes rarely signed his works, researchers identify his paintings through consistent elements like his use of blue shades and specific tree depictions.