Tycho Christoffer Jæger: Urnes Church in Sogn (1853)

A Norwegian landscape poster featuring Tycho Christoffer Jæger’s Urnes Church in Sogn from 1853. The medieval wooden church rises within the quiet fjord landscape, surrounded by steep mountains and cultivated land.

Printed locally on heavyweight matte paper, as close to you as possible. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.

• Historic Norwegian landscape by Tycho Christoffer Jæger
• Urnes Stave Church in Sogn, painted in 1853
• Medieval wooden architecture within a fjord landscape
• Rich natural detail and Romantic atmosphere
• Printed on 200 gsm premium matte paper
• Available in five sizes
• Frame not included

A medieval church in the fjord landscape

Urnes Stave Church stands high above the Lustrafjord in Sogn. In Jæger’s painting, the dark wooden building forms the centre of a broad landscape where fields, trees and mountains lead the eye towards the water.

The church appears modest beside the surrounding nature. Its distinctive roofline and upright construction nevertheless give it a clear presence in the scene. Jæger presents architecture and landscape as parts of the same historical environment.

One of Norway’s oldest stave churches

The present church was built around 1130 and is among Norway’s oldest surviving stave churches. Parts of the carved decoration were reused from an earlier church erected on the same site during the 11th century.

The carvings combine animal ornament from Viking tradition with Romanesque architectural forms. This distinctive combination became known as the Urnes style.

“Urnes is one of the oldest and is an outstanding representative of the stave churches.”

Painted before the age of preservation

Jæger created the painting in 1853, almost three decades before the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments acquired the church in 1881. The picture therefore belongs to a period when Norway’s medieval wooden buildings were gradually being recognised as important national monuments.

Urnes Stave Church was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. It remains the only Norwegian stave church on the list.

Tycho Jæger and the landscape of Western Norway

Tycho Christoffer Jæger was born in Bergen in 1819. He attended the Bergen drawing school and studied for a short period at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen during the 1840s.

After returning to Norway, he settled in Sogn and devoted much of his work to landscapes. His paintings frequently show places in Western Norway, with detailed buildings and natural scenery shaped by changing weather and dramatic light.

Jæger drew inspiration from Danish landscape painting and the Romantic subjects associated with J.C. Dahl. Around 200 paintings, watercolours and drawings by him are known today.

Artwork details

Available sizes

Norwegian cultural history for your home

The earthy colours, dark wooden church and spacious mountain landscape give the poster a calm, historic character. It is well suited to a living room, study, hallway or interior featuring wood and natural materials.

Discover more historic landscapes in our Norwegian art collection.

Frequently asked questions

Which church appears in the painting?

The painting depicts Urnes Stave Church in Luster, beside the Lustrafjord in Sogn.

When was the church built?

The present stave church was built around 1130. It incorporates carved elements from an older church on the same site.

When did Jæger paint the work?

Tycho Christoffer Jæger painted Urnes Church in Sogn in 1853.

Where is the original painting?

The original belongs to The National Museum in Oslo and has inventory number NG.M.01839.

What paper is the poster printed on?

It is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm quality paper with a matte, non-reflective surface.

Is a frame included?

No. The frame is not included, allowing you to choose one that suits the poster and your interior.