Gerhard Peter Frantz Munthe was a visual artist and illustrator born in 1849 in the city of Elverun. When Munthe moved to Christiania in 1863, his intention was to study medicine like his father, but his father advised him to take up the arts. He studied under Johan Fredrik Eckersberg in 1870 and under Julius Middelthun at the School of Design. He continued his training under Morten Müller and Knud Bergslien until 1874. Between 1874−1876 he studied in Düsseldorf under Andreas Achenbach, and his third cousin the artist Ludvig Munthe.

     From 1877−1882 he lived in Munich, however, many of his naturalist motifs were taken from Norway. At this time he painted in the naturalist style.

     From the 1890s he experimented with decorative art in the Arts and Crafts style. From 1896−1899 he was occupied with illustrating the works of Snorri Sturluson, together with the artist Erik Werenskiold, whom he had met in Munich. Some of his works were woven into large tapestries. In 1900, Munthe received a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris for carpets made at the weaving school. That same year he designed book bindings, vignettes, front pages and illustrations. He also created monumental decorations, but many were lost in a house fire in 1982. Internationally he took part at the Exposition Universelle of 1900, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904.

     Munthe was a member of the selection committee at The Autumn Exhibition (Høstutstillingen) from its start in 1882 to 1890. He was a member of the board of the National Gallery of Norway from 1892−1905 and Den norske Husflidsforening from 1897 onward, and chair of the National Gallery from 1905−1907. In 1900 he was a board member of the Norwegian Folk Museum (Norsk Folkemuseum) and the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (Kunstindustrimuseet). He was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and a Knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog, and was awarded the Swedish Order of the Polar Star.

     In 2018 The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design held the largest exhibition of Munthe's design and craft art since 1917, with 250 works displayed. In 2021 the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology held an exhibition titled, "Gerhard Munthe - Enchanted Design."

     The artist is represented in these public institutions:

• National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo

• Oslo City Museum

• The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology

• National Museum of Decorative Arts in Trondheim

• The Balaton Museum - Keszthely

• Hardanger Folk Museum

• The National Gallery of Denmark

• Malmö Museum

• Holmenkollen Hotel in Oslo (room decorations)

• Håkonshallen in Bergen (room decorations)