on the art of Japan. As a museum expert, Madsen became recognized as an authority on Dutch art and brought about a reassessment of Danish art in the first half of the 19th century, especially with his biography of Johan Lundbye in 1895. He was the director of Statens Museum for Kunst from 1911 to 1925, and director of Skagens Museum from 1928 to 1938. Madsen received an honorary doctorate at Lund University and became a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1909 and Commander 2nd Class in 1925. Personal life Madsen married twice. He married his first wife Johanne Henriette Møller on 3 June 1880 but she died on 9 March the following year during the birth of their first child. He then married Thora Juliane Nielsen (5 August 1858 – 9 December 1929) on 4 July 1883. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. Madsen's son by his first wife, Henry Sofus Madsen (1881–1921) was an egyptologist, journalist and editor. Another son, Svend Viggo Madsen (1885–1954) was also a painter. His elder daughter, Sofie Madsen (1887–1965) married the painter Arne Lofthus Madsen died on 16 April 1938 and was buried in Assistens Cemetery. References External links Karl Madsen at geni.dk 1855 births 1938 deaths People from Copenhagen Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni Modern painters Danish painters Skagen Painters Danish art historians Directors of museums in Denmark 19th-century Danish people Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog