Agnes Hiort: Håkon Mosby, 1971
Håkon Mosby (1903-1989) was a meteorologist. In 1927 he began as an assistant professor at the section for theoretical meteorology at the Geophysical Institute at Bergen Museum, which later became part of the University of Bergen.
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He became a professor at the Institute in 1946. With its international reputation, the Geophysical Institute was a support pillar in the founding of the University of Bergen, and Mosby was a committed participant in the process. He was Dean of the Faculty of Science from 1954 to -59, and sat as Rector from 1966 to -71. Mosby was awarded the Fram Committee Nansen Award in 1970 for his work in the polar regions. He received numerous medals, among them the Prince Albert Medal in 1960 and the H.U. Sverdrup Medal in 1980. In 1971 he was appointed to Commander of the Order of St. Olav, and given an honorary doctorate at the University of Newcastle.
Agnes Hiort has portrayed Mosby standing, from the front. The Rector chain is prominent, and the color of the robe is a bright red. In her portraits Hiort often painted the background in shades of cobalt blue, reminiscent of an overcast sky. But she usually allowed a corner to carry contrasting colors, here yellow and blue. We can imagine that Mosby is outdoors, by an autumnal forest. The somewhat turbulent gray color that surrounds him, combined with the flashes of blue that penetrate some places, are suitable for his work as a meteorologist.
Håkon Mosby is also represented in a large portrait of the Geophysical Institute, painted by Eva Synnestvedt.
NORA SØRENSEN VAAGE