Tandberg slekten på Ringerike

Note from Ann Edwards: Early in 2010, I was contacted by the husband of one of my Tandberg cousins. His wife had spent time visiting her grandparents at the Setton farm in Fluberg as a child and was aware of the accomplishments of her cousin Erik. The subject of Peder Aadnes was new to them, and renewed my interest in both of these special people. An article about Peder Aadnes in Landings across the Ocean by Carol Olson (with input from Alastair Brown), plus Boka om Land V, Setton, provides information for what follows.
Peder died at only 53 years of age and is buried at the Fluberg church in Land, on the south side and very close to the building – photo right. Pastor Munch wrote the epitaph for his tombstone: “The wanderer. Here rests Peder Aadnes, born 1738, died 1792. An exceptional man, for with his ceaseless industriousness he became a painter; through reading and contemplation, but with understanding and belief a true and blessed Christian.” Examples of Peder’s art can be found throughout Norway, including in the Captain’s house at Maihaugen in Lille-hammer. But one need not leave Land to see many examples of his art. He painted the altar picture at the Hov church in 1782 and did the ceiling paintings at the Nordsinni church. About 1770, he was hired to paint the sitting-room walls in the main house on the Tomle farm by the wealthy owner Abraham Tomle who was in the lucrative overseas timber trade. In 1975 this house was re-erected

at Lands Museum, the oldest section dating from 1636. Peder’s painted walls at Tomle display the typical Aadnes trees and fantasy landscapes that one usually associates with him. A chest, photo left, is another example of Peder’s work which can be seen at the Tomle house.

At 17 years of age, Peder was already applying his artistic talents in the Fluberg Church under the supervision of his artist teacher Eggert Munch. He later studied drawing with Niels Thåning in Oslo. Peder took over his father’s farm and combined farming with his painting work the rest of his life.