Brøndum, Ane Hedvig

Biography in relation to Skagen

Ane Hedvig Møller was born and raised in Skagen Vesterby, the eldest child of the town's enterprising mill builder and civic representative Søren Pedersen Møller (called "Søren Møllebygger") and Ane Eskildsdatter.

She lived from about 1830 in the family farm, (later Madam Bendsens Gård/ Tuxens Villa). Ane went to school with teacher Høm (who built the property that Holger Drachmann bought and named Villa Pax) and went to serve after confirmation.

Arranged marriage?

Her parents pressured her to marry Erik Brøndum, even though she was in love with another man, the young Fabricius. She made no secret of her bitterness, which left its lasting mark on the marriage. Ane and Erik had six children, only one of whom married (Anna Brøndum married Michael Ancher).

An intellectual woman

She inherited her steadfastness and strong character from her father and, like him, was intellectually gifted. Of her own accord, she was deeply involved in literature and poetry, engaged in social issues and also developed into an extremely articulate writer.

With the resignation of a martyr, however, she let duty prevail and devoted herself to the running of Brøndum's Guest House in Skagen Østerby, especially after the fire of 1874, when she promised the Lord to work extra hard in the hope of overcoming the crisis. She succeeded and toiled in the kitchen for years until her face was sooty with smoke from the stove.

A religious woman

The local poor did not go to Mrs Brøndum in vain. She was deeply religious and joined the Inner Mission with three of her daughters (Agnes, Marie and Hulda).

At the same time, she accepted her daughter Anna's involvement in the radical cultural circle of artists and the sometimes debauched lives of her sons (Degn and Jon).

Retirement

Around 1900 she retired and left the running of the hotel to her children. She retired to the Blue Room, where, dressed in white robes and shawls, she spent her time reading the Bible and writing.

Ane Hedvig Brøndum was nicknamed the Mother of Skagen or Madam Brøndum. She is depicted many times in paintings by her daughter Anna Ancher.