Funeral on Røst Island, by the Chapel

The priest and the mourners stand by a grave on the cemetery, the capel behind them. The sky is dark and there are breaking waves on the set, a storm is on its way.

Adolpf Claudius Tidemand was the lesser known nephew of the famous Norwegian painter Adolph Tiedemann. He has most likely not received any significant instruction from his uncle who died in August 1876 but has nevertheless received strong impressions of his art.

In the summer of 1883, he visited another uncle who vas a vicar in Værøy in Lofoten, where he painted seven paintings (that are known) in addition to this one. In the 1800s churches like the one we see in this painting were often built near the shore, where ships could see them upon their return from the sea.