Israel B. Melchior

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Israel Berendt Melchior (12 May 1827 – 7 September 1893) was a Danish engineer, factory owner, and amateur photographer. A trained civil engineer, he bought the Valdemarshaab paper factory near Køge in 1874 for 60,000 kroner after it failed following a flood. He renovated it and built Søvang, an Italian-style house next to the factory, but the plant burned down in October 1875 and was never rebuilt. He lived there from 1875 to 1884 with his wife and cousin Johanne Melchior and their four children, hosting many social gatherings. Melchior designed Søvang with a large top-floor photography studio to get plenty of light. He was known for taking photos at Rolighed, the family mansion in Østerbro, where artists and writers, including Hans Christian Andersen, often visited. The author became acquainted with the family in 1862, and Melchior photographed him several times starting in 1867, including portraits.