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Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

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Item Ships From: Stockholm
Crowded Street Scene From Luntmakargatan, Stockholm
Located in Stockholm, SE
Olof Arborelius (1842–1915) From Luntmakargatan, Stockholm oil on paper mounted on board signed with monogram “OA” unframed 24 × 30 cm (9.4 × 11.8 in) frame 35 × 41 cm (13.8 × 16.1...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board, Laid Paper

Impressionist Winter Landscape from 1928
Located in Stockholm, SE
In the foreground, a rustic wooden fence and a stand of evergreens emerge from soft, pristine drifts, their dark green needles and the artist’s characteristic ultramarine shadows con...
Category

1920s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Saint Bernadette Soubirous Portrait and Religious Scene (1891)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This remarkable double-sided devotional painting on copper showcases exceptional craftsmanship and deep spiritual reverence. On the recto, a finely rendered portrait of Saint Bernade...
Category

1890s Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Copper

Afternoon Mood – Wallén’s Skagen-like Swedish Coastal Masterpiece
Located in Stockholm, SE
Gustaf Theodor Wallén (1860–1948) Swedish  Afternoon Mood, c. 1886-1887 oil on canvas signed G.T.Wallén unframed 100 x 150 cm (39 ⅜ x 59 in) framed 130 x 180 cm (51 ⅛ x 70 ⅞ in) ...
Category

1880s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Adoration of the Shepherds by a follower of Denys Calvaert
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unknown Italo-Flemish Artist (active circa 1600) Adoration of the Shepherds oil on copper unframed: 32 × 25.5 cm (12.6 × 10 in) framed: 43 × 37 cm (16.9 × 14.6 in) Provenance: Acq...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Copper

Moonlight in Autumn, Gotland (Månsken Höst, Gotland) 1920
Located in Stockholm, SE
Louis Sparre 1863–1964 Moonlight in Autumn, Gotland (Månsken Höst, Gotland) 1920 executed in 1920 oil on canvas laid board unframed: 20.5 × 28.5 cm (8.07 × 11.22 in) framed: 32 × 4...
Category

1920s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sunset by Hilding Werner (1925) – Formerly Owner Sven-Göran “Svennis” Eriksson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sunset (1925) depicts a serene lake in Värmland at the close of day, suffused with the golden light of dusk. In this composition, Werner captures one of his signature motifs: a broad...
Category

1920s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cuzco (Cusco) School - Ángel Arcabucero (Angel with Arquebus)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Cuzco (Cusco) School, 19th century, Peru Ángel Arcabucero (Angel with Arquebus) oil on canvas unframed 58 × 41 cm (22.8 × 16.1 in) framed 66 × 49 cm (26.0 × 19.3 in) No signature Provenance: Acquired in Peru in 1986 by the previous owner. Essay: This painting portrays a celestial figure identified as an ángel arcabucero – literally an “arquebus-bearing angel,” shown as an archangel wielding an early firearm (arquebus) instead of the traditional sword. The angel is richly attired in the fashion of an Andean noble or Spanish aristocrat, with an ornate embroidered coat, lace collar, and billowing sleeves, in keeping with the distinctive iconography of these militaristic angels. Such ángeles arcabuceros emerged in the late 17th century in colonial Peru and were especially popular in Cuzco School painting, replacing the sword of Catholic warrior-angels with a gun to signify the heavenly army’s power in a modern guise. The graceful figure, dressed as a nobleman yet serving a divine role, underscores the fusion of earthly authority and celestial protection – a sartorial and symbolic innovation unique to the Andean region’s religious art. This iconography, found only in Spanish colonial territories, resonated with local believers and visually confirmed the angel’s identity as a heavenly soldier guarding the faithful, his delicate hands cradling a long-barreled arquebus as if it were a sacred instrument. The Ángel Arcabucero exemplifies the visual hallmarks of the Cuzco School, a major Peruvian painting...
Category

19th Century Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century Neoclassical Scene - Psyche, Oil on Canvas
By Otto Bache
Located in Stockholm, SE
In this neoclassical oil on canvas signed and dated “Otto Bache 1864”, the artist depicts Psyche standing with her back turned to the viewer beside a red draped table. Her hair is arranged in a tight knot, secured with a hairpin adorned with two large pearls. She holds a light drapery that covers her legs, while the rest of her body remains nude. With her head turned toward the right, she gazes downward toward the table, where a blue gown or drapery lies, the garment she is about to put on. Her softly illuminated profile emerges as she turns in the light falling from the upper left, creating a striking backlight that heightens the contrast along the contours of her body. On the richly red draped table before her rest her jewellery and, to her left, a large amphora-shaped jug and a tazza bowl. The light descending from above to the left defines the composition with sharp contrasts between brightness and shadow, revealing the delicate modelling of Psyche’s form and lending the scene a quiet sense of introspection and grace. Exhibited: Winkel & Magnussen October 1915 no. 5, ill. p. 5. Otto Bache was born in 1839 in Roskilde, Denmark, and died in 1927 in Copenhagen. At the age of only eleven he was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen where he studied drawing and painting under the supervision of artists such as Wilhelm Marstrand. His early training gave him a basis in the Danish “Golden Age” tradition of realism and naturalism, but he went on to travel and extend his horizons. In 1866 he received an Academy travel-scholarship and went to Paris, then Italy (1867–68). The influence of Paris is often noted: his palette became richer, his handling freer, his light stronger, and his subjects broader. Later in his career, from around 1887, he held the post as professor and on various occasions director of the Royal Danish Academy. Bache’s early work reflects his rigorous academic training: careful drawing, subdued palette and interest in genre scenes and rural life. After his travel in Paris and Italy he adopted a somewhat more robust handling of color and light, but still remained essentially realist and narrative in approach. He painted portraits, animal and hunting subjects, genre scenes, and large history-paintings depicting key moments from Danish history. In particular, during the 1880s and 1890s when he was commissioned to execute large history canvases for the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle and similar institutions, depicting events such as the exploits of Danish soldiers...
Category

1860s Other Art Style Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Scandinavian Impressionist Landscape (1894)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This oil on canvas by Anton Genberg, signed and dated 1894, portrays a Scandinavian summer landscape bathed in gentle light. The composition features lush green meadows in the foregr...
Category

1890s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Young Boy Seen from Behind
Located in Stockholm, SE
This intimate oil painting presents a young boy viewed from a three-quarter rear angle, caught in a quiet, reflective moment. The child’s back is turned gently toward the viewer, ren...
Category

1890s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Monk in a Monastic Cell, Roma, Italy
Located in Stockholm, SE
Egron Lundgren (1815–1875) Monk in a Monastic Cell signed and dated Egron Lundgren Rom 1848 oil on relined canvas unframed 62 x 50 cm (24 ½ x 19 ¾ in.) framed 79 x 68 cm (31 x 26 ¾...
Category

1840s Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1790 Antique Oil Painting Dutch Style Village Genrе Scene Djurgarden Sweden
Located in Stockholm, SE
This rare 1790 oil painting depicts a village landscape in the Old Masters genre tradition. The composition shows peasants gathered near a cottage su...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Portrait of a Young Man with Bagpipes, Follower of J.H. Tischbein the Elder
By Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder
Located in Stockholm, SE
Follower of Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder (1722–1789) Man with Bagpipes oil on oak panel no signature 25 × 19 cm (9.8 × 7.5 in) 31 x 26 cm (12.2 x 10.2 in) This refined 18th...
Category

18th Century Rococo Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oak, Oil, Wood Panel

View from Månberget, Källvik (1912)
Located in Stockholm, SE
The view from Månberget at sunset, as captured by Gottfrid Kallstenius in this 1912 oil painting, displays a warm golden light over Djupsundet, framed by the silhouette of a gnarled ...
Category

1910s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Scandinavian Landscape View by Swedish Artist Oscar Lycke, Large Size Painting
Located in Stockholm, SE
Oscar Lycke was a Swedish artist from Sundsvall. He is best known for his impressive colourful landscape paintings in a national romantic and realism styl...
Category

1920s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Kastellet, View of Kastellholmen from Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Located in Stockholm, SE
signed lower right oil on canvas unframed 37 × 50 cm (14.6 × 19.7 in) framed 51.5 × 63 cm (20.3 × 24.8 in) This painting depicts Kastellholmen as seen from Skeppsholmen, rendered un...
Category

1870s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Glow of the Past: Lundström’s Stockholm with a Touch of Mystery
Located in Stockholm, SE
We are pleased to present this painting by Ernst Lundström, dedicated to the esteemed sculptor Per Hasselberg. The dedication on the front of the painting makes this piece particular...
Category

1880s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Children Bathing by a Rocky Shore, Skagen, 1892
Located in Stockholm, SE
Paul Graf (1866–1903), Swedish Children Bathing by a Rocky Shore, 1892 signed Graf and indistinctly dated 1892 oil on canvas mounted on panel unframed 139 × 175 cm (54.7 × 68.9 in)...
Category

1890s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Landscape with Gentleman on Horseback and Peasant Woman Receiving Alms
By Philips Wouwerman
Located in Stockholm, SE
Workshop / Circle of Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) Landscape with Gentleman on Horseback and Peasant Woman Receiving Alms oil on oak panel 12.40 x 14.17 inches (31.5 x 36 cm) wit...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oak, Oil, Wood Panel

Antique 18th Century Neoclassical Oil Portrait Young Lady Turban Unknown Master
Located in Stockholm, SE
This captivating oil portrait from the late 18th to early 19th century depicts a mysterious charming young woman, painted by an unknown but clearly professional master, presumably Fr...
Category

Late 18th Century Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Coastal Scene from the Swedish West Coast (1923)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Anton Genberg’s coastal painting captures a tranquil harbor scene along Sweden’s west coast. In this 1923 oil painting, a cluster of weathered boathouses stands by the water’s edge, ...
Category

1920s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sailboats in the Swedish Archipelago Painting by Justus Lundegård, Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, SE
Justus Lundegård grew up in the Swedish village Hörby. He started his art studies at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts 1880–84 and later in Munich and Paris where he switched to an Impressionist style. In this painting, we can see his later talent for painting white light...
Category

Early 20th Century Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Moonlit Reflections, Heyst-sur-Mer. Painted 1884
By Elias Erdtman
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elias Erdtman (Sweden, 1863–1945) Moonlit Reflections, Heyst-sur-Mer oil on canvas laid on board signed E. Erdman och daterad -84 unframed: 29 x 18.5 cm (11.4 x 7.3 inches) framed:...
Category

1880s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

A French Barbizon Garden by Swedish Artist Carl Skånberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Carl Skånberg (1850-1883) Sweden A Barbizon Garden (1879) oil on wood panel signed C. Skånberg, dated 1879 (lower front) unframed: 19 × 24 cm (7.5 × 9.4 inches) framed: 40 × 45 cm ...
Category

1870s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

An Apostle Painted in the Circle of Peter Paul Rubens, Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, SE
Peter Paul Rubens (circle of) An Apostle circular 15.15 inches (38.5 cm) oil on canvas Provenance: Bukowskis Auctions, lot 725149, as "Peter Paul Rubens, circle of".
Category

17th Century Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Impressionistic View over Strandvägen, Stockholm
Located in Stockholm, SE
This painting by Bernhard Oscarsson (1894-1977) is a captivating visual narrative of Stockholm's serene beauty. Oscarsson, a student of Caleb Althin's painting school and the Royal S...
Category

1930s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Old Master Painting Called Christ at the Column
Located in Stockholm, SE
Follower of Gerard Seghers (1591-1651) Christ at the Column oil on wood panel c. 1700s unframed 19.5 × 14 cm Provenance: Originally in the collection of Dr. Axel Munthe (1857–1949), the renowned Swedish physician and author celebrated for his philanthropic work and for founding Villa San Michele...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

The Grape Seller by Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop), Oil on Canvas, Period Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop) The Grape Seller oil on canvas unframed: 80.7 x 61 cm.; 31 ¾ x 24 in. framed: 109.5 x 89 cm.; 43 1/8 x 35 in. Essay: Th...
Category

1660s Dutch School Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of an Old Bearded Man With a Black Cap
Located in Stockholm, SE
We are pleased to offer a captivating portrait, most likely painted in the late 18th century, attributed to an artist within the circle of Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich. This oil ...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Young Girl Watering Flowers – Intimate 19th Century Genre Scene
Located in Stockholm, SE
This tender scene by German artist Georg Buchner captures a quiet, intimate moment: a young girl carefully watering a potted plant on a windowsill. The warm light gently illuminates ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

1817 Oval Portrait of Gentleman Oil on Canvas Original Empire Gilt Bronze Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
This accomplished portrait captures a distinguished young gentleman at the twilight of the Napoleonic era. His penetrating gaze and confident bearing betray not only his aristocratic...
Category

1810s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

Afternoon Mood – Wallén’s Skagen-like Swedish Coastal Masterpiece
Located in Stockholm, SE
Gustaf Theodor Wallén (1860–1948) Swedish  Afternoon Mood, c. 1886-1887 oil on canvas signed G.T.Wallén unframed 100 x 150 cm (39 ⅜ x 59 in) framed 130 x 180 cm (51 ⅛ x 70 ⅞ in) ...
Category

1880s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Impressionistic Venice Scene by W. von Gegerfelt, c. 1880s
By Wilhelm von Gegerfelt
Located in Stockholm, SE
In this luminous canal scene, painted during his stay in Venice in the early 1880s, Wilhelm von Gegerfelt captures the vivid atmosphere and dazzling light of the city with remarkable...
Category

1880s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Antique 1868 Swedish Countryside Genre Oil Painting Bride Arrival Signed Framed
Located in Stockholm, SE
This charming Swedish countryside genre painting, signed lower left "T.A. Forssman" and dated 1868, captures a touching bride arrival scene: a young woman in traditional folk costume...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Old Master Painting, Flemish School from 1600s, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Located in Stockholm, SE
This small Flemish painting, measuring only 24.5 x 18.5 cm and executed on a copper plate, depicts Saint Nicholas of Tolentino. Created in the 17th century, the artist remains unknow...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Copper

Skaters at Sunset by the Village Creek
Located in Stockholm, SE
This small painting by Oscar Törnå captures the poetic serenity of a Swedish winter evening in the late 19th century. Set along a frozen stream near a village, the composition presen...
Category

1870s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Golden Sunrise on the Maas – Arthur J. Meadows’ Tranquil Masterpiece (1884)
By Arthur Joseph Meadows
Located in Stockholm, SE
A Golden Dawn on the Maas In this refined marine painting, Arthur Joseph Meadows captures a tranquil sunrise on the river Maas just below the historic city of Dordrecht (“Dort”). The...
Category

1880s Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century Antique Dutch Oil Painting Interior Scene Couple Reading Framed
Located in Stockholm, SE
Attributed to Hendrik Hollander (1823-1884). This exquisite example of 19th-century European genre painting portrays a noble couple engaged in reading within a luxurious interior sce...
Category

Mid-19th Century Dutch School Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil, Wood Panel

Portrait of an Old Bearded Man
Located in Stockholm, SE
We are pleased to offer a captivating portrait, most likely painted in the late 18th century, attributed to an artist within the circle of Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich. This oil ...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Hide n seek Home Scene w Grandma Russian early 20th Century Oil Genre Painting
Located in Stockholm, SE
Signed on the bottom right is "J. Braze", Osip Emmanuilovich Braz (1873 - 1936), renowned as a Russian-Jewish realist painter. As the scene unfolds on the canvas, we witness the gran...
Category

Early 20th Century Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees) 1928
By Fritz Lindström
Located in Stockholm, SE
Fritz Lindström (1874–1962) Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees), 1928 oil on panel unframed 15.5 × 24 cm (6.1 × 9.4 in) framed: 26 × 34 cm (10.2 × 13.4 in) signed on the reverse Frame by...
Category

1920s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Seated Nude in the Studio – A Modernist Study from the 1920s
Located in Stockholm, SE
This evocative oil painting, titled Studio Muse, depicts a seated nude in a quiet moment of contemplation. The model is shown in profile, resting on a simple wooden stool against a n...
Category

1920s Modern Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Midnight Reflections From the Artist Lidingö Studio
Located in Stockholm, SE
This captivating painting by the Swedish-Danish artist Axel Lind offers a serene and introspective view from the artist's studio on Lidingö, Stockholm. The c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Christ on the Cold Stone – After Jan Gossaert (Mabuse)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This striking devotional image, painted by a follower of Jan Gossaert, represents one of the most influential compositions of the Northern Renaissance: Christ on the Cold Stone, or C...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Summer Day on the West Coast of Sweden by Swedish Impressionist Alfred Wahlberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Alfred Wahlberg was a distinguished Swedish landscape painter whose career spanned Germany, France, and Sweden. During his early years, he resided in D...
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Small Old Painting Called Rocky Path With Figures
By Thomas Barker of Bath
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite painting, titled "Rocky Path With Figures" is a captivating example of Thomas Barker of Bath's talent. Despite its small size, measuring only 13 x 11 cm, this piece sh...
Category

Early 19th Century Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Early 1900s French Orientalist Oil Painting North African Bazaar Scene Framed
Located in Stockholm, SE
This evocative orientalist oil painting captures the vibrant atmosphere of a North African marketplace in the early 1900s. The painting depicts a street with a perspective toward a t...
Category

Early 20th Century Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil, Cardboard

Pointillist - Scandinavian Winter Landscape, 1907 by Arthur Percy
Located in Stockholm, SE
Introducing "Scandinavian Winter Landscape, 1907" a mesmerizing painting by the artist Arthur Percy Carlsson, later known as Arthur C:son Percy (1886-1976). Born in Vickleby, Öland, Percy's artistic journey was one defined by unwavering determination and exceptional talent. This landscape painting presents a winter landscape, likely set during the early spring season. The canvas portrays a vast, snow-filled meadow, blanketed in pristine white. Above, the sky comes alive in a captivating pointillist style, with hues of blue, turquoise, and yellow forming delicate, scattered dots, while small clouds grace the horizon. The scene unfolds with an enchanting backdrop of a distant forest, its trees adorned with a touch of winter's charm. Between the enchanting forest and the expansive meadow, a few humble houses...
Category

Early 1900s Pointillist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Card Players by a Flemish 1600s Artist
By Flemish School, 17th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
Flemish 1600s School The Card Players oil on oak panel panel dimensions 22.5 x 20 cm frame included Provenance: From a Swedish private collection. Condition: Flat and stabl...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oak, Oil, Panel

Antique American Impressionist Winter Landscape Oil Painting Signed Framed
By Walter Launt Palmer
Located in Stockholm, SE
This captivating winter landscape was painted in early 20th century, signed lower left "W.L. Palmer", attributed to American Impressionist Walter Launt Palmer (1854–1932). Trained in...
Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Alabaster

1916 Danish Interior Genre Painting Conversation w Reverend Scene Framed Oil
Located in Stockholm, SE
Painting is signed for acknowledged artist Niels Holbak 1884-1954, who educated at the Art Academy in Finland 1909-10 and was taught at the Art Academy in Copenhagen from 1912-1914 a...
Category

1910s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Shipping in Stormy Waters, Attributed to Italian Artist Francesco Guardi
By Francesco Guardi
Located in Stockholm, SE
The splendour of the tragic sea Francesco Guardi and maritime painting in Venetian art No Venetian painter was a stranger to the sea. After all, Venice was not only one of the most prominent ports of the Mediterranean, but indeed a city literally submerged in the ocean from time to time. Curiously however, the famous Venetian school of painting showed little interest in maritime motifs, favouring scenes from the iconic architecture of the city rather than seascapes. That is why this painting is a particularly interesting window into not only the painter Francesco Guardi himself – but to the significance of the element of water in art history, in absence as well as in the centre of attention. Whether it be calm, sunny days with stunning views of the palaces alongside the canals of Venice or – more rarely – stormy shipwrecking tragedies at sea, water as a unifying element is integral to the works of painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). During his lifetime, Venetian art saw many of its greatest triumphs with names like Tiepolo or Canaletto gaining international recognition and firmly establishing Venice as one of the most vibrant artistic communities of Europe. While the city itself already in the 18th century was something of an early tourist spot where aristocrats and high society visited on their grand tour or travels, the artists too contributed to the fame and their work spread the image of Venice as the city of romance and leisure to an international audience, many of whom could never visit in person. Still today, the iconic image of Venice with its whimsical array of palaces, churches and other historic buildings is much influenced by these artists, many of whom have stood the test of time like very well and remain some of the most beloved in all of art history. It was not primarily subtility, intellectual meanings or moral ideals that the Venetian art tried to capture; instead it was the sheer vibrancy of life and the fast-paced city with crumbling palaces and festive people that made this atmosphere so special. Of course, Venice could count painters in most genres among its residents, from portraiture to religious motifs, history painting and much else. Still, it is the Vedutas and views of the city that seems to have etched itself into our memory more than anything else, not least in the tradition of Canaletto who was perhaps the undisputed master of all Venetian painters. Born into his profession, Francesco lived and breathed painting all his life. His father, the painter Domenico Guardi (1678–1716) died when Francesco was just a small child, yet both he and his brothers Niccolò and Gian Antonio continued in their fathers’ footsteps. The Guardi family belonged to the nobility and originated from the mountainous area of Trentino, not far from the Alps. The brothers worked together on more challenging commissions and supported each other in the manner typical of family workshops or networks of artists. Their sister Maria Cecilia married no other than the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo himself, linking the family to the most renowned Venetian name of the time. During almost a decade, Guardi worked in the studio of Michele Giovanni Marieschi, sometimes simply known as Michiel, a painted similar in both style and motif. Canaletto is, however, the artist Guardi is most often compared to since they shared a mutual fascination for depicting the architecture and cityscape of Venice. During the course of his career, Guardi tried his hand in many different genres. He was as swift in painting landscapes, Vedutas of Venice, sacred motifs, interiors and architectural compositions as he was in a number of other motifs. His style is typical of the Venetian school but also distinct and personal once we look a little closer. There is an absolute certainty in the composition, the choice of which sometimes feels like that of a carefully calculated photograph – yet it is also very painterly, in the best sense of the word: fluid, bold, sensitive and full of character. The brushwork is rapid, intense, seemingly careless and extraordinarily minute at the same time; fresh and planned in a very enjoyable mixture. His interiors often capture the breath-taking spacious glamour of the palaces and all their exquisite decor. He usually constructed the motif through remarkably simple, almost spontaneous yet intuitively precise strokes and shapes. The result was a festive, high-spirited atmospheric quality, far away from the sterile and exact likeness that other painters fell victim to when trying to copy Canaletto. The painting here has nothing of the city of Venice in it. On the contrary, we seem to be transported far away into the solitary ocean, with no architecture, nothing to hold on to – only the roaring sea and the dangerous cliffs upon which the ships are just moments away from being crushed upon. It is a maritime composition evoking both Flemish and Italian precursors, in the proud tradition of maritime painting that for centuries formed a crucial part of our visual culture. This genre of painting is today curiously overlooked, compared to how esteemed and meaningful it was when our relationship to the sea was far more natural than it is today. When both people and goods travelled by water, and many nations and cities – Venice among them – depended entirely on sea fare, the existential connection to the ocean was much more natural and integrated into the imagination. The schools and traditions of maritime art are as manifold as there are countries connected to the sea, and all reflect the need to process the dangers and wonders of the ocean. It could symbolize opportunity, the exciting prospects of a new countries and adventures, prospering trade, beautiful scenery as well as war and tragedy, loss of life, danger and doom. To say that water is ambivalent in nature is an understatement, and these many layers were something that artists explored in the most wondrous ways. Perhaps it takes a bit more time for the modern eye to identify the different nuances and qualities of historic maritime paintings, they may on first impression seem hard to differentiate from each other. But when allowing these motifs to unfold and tell stories of the sea in both fiction and reality – or somewhere in between – we are awarded with an understanding of how the oceans truly built our world. In Guardi’s interpretation, we see an almost theatrically arranged shipwrecking scene. No less than five ships are depicted right in the moment of utter disaster. Caught in a violent storm, the waves have driven them to a shore of sharp cliffs and if not swallowed by the waves, crushing against the cliffs seems to be the only outcome. The large wooden ships are impressively decorated with elaborate sculpture, and in fact relics already during Guardi’s lifetime. They are in fact typical of Dutch and Flemish 17th century ships, giving us a clue to where he got the inspiration from. Guardi must have seen examples of Flemish maritime art, that made him curious about these particular motifs. One is reminded of Flemish painters like Willem van de Velde and Ludolf Backhuysen, and this very painting has indeed been mistakenly attributed to Matthieu van Plattenberg...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a lady in blue dress ”Countess of Peterborough”
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite portrait, with its new attribution to Theodore Russel, is believed to depict Lady Penelope O'Brien, daughter of Barnabas O'Brien, the sixth Earl of Thomond, and wife of the Earl of Peterborough, whom she married in 1644. The painting thus belongs to a historically significant period, capturing the refined elegance of the time. The portrait has a prestigious provenance from Elleholms Hofgård, a historic estate in Mörrums socken, Blekinge, Sweden. Elleholms Hofgård, whose two-story, timber-framed main building was constructed in 1730 and expanded in 1804, has changed ownership several times since the 17th century. The ancestors of the present owners acquired the estate in 1915, and from the 20th century until 2023, this painting was prominently displayed in the estate’s main building, making it an integral part of the estate’s history. Theodore Russel, an English portrait artist born in 1614, studied under the renowned Sir Anthony van Dyck, whose influence can be seen in Russel’s meticulous style. Russel often painted on cabinet-sized panels, such as this one, which measures approximately 39 x 31 cm. This preference for panels is a notable characteristic that sets him apart from contemporary artists like Sir Peter Lely, who exclusively used canvas. The size of the panel is a key reason for the reattribution to Russel from Peter lely, as Lely never used panels for his works. This distinctive format, along with Russel’s characteristic style, strongly supports the new attribution. Russel, the son of Nicasius Rousseel, a goldsmith and jeweler to James I and Charles I, refined his skills under the mentorship of his uncle, the famous portrait painter Cornelis Janssen. He also worked as an assistant and copyist for van Dyck, further honing his artistic style. This captivating portrait exemplifies Russel’s craftsmanship, reflecting the elegance of the period’s fashion and the artist's refined techniques. oil on wood panel with indistinct inscription Countess of Peter[...] upper left. with inscription on the reverse: ”Countess of Peterborough. P. Lely 1670. S Beatty Picture Restorer [...] Warwick”. unframed 39 x 31 cm = 15.35 x 12.2 inches framed 52 x 41.5 cm = 20.47 x 16.34 inches Condition: The portrait has just been restored by a professional art conservator in Stockholm and is now in a very good condition. The colors are vivid, and the skin tones appear more natural than before. It is a very fine painting. The frame is newly made and included. Provenance: Elleholms Hofgård, Mörrums socken, Blekinge, Sweden **; Stockholms Auktionsverk, Fine Art & Antiques Autumn...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Winter Scene by the Water, 1912
Located in Stockholm, SE
This atmospheric winter painting depicts a solitary wooden building, likely a small workshop or riverside shed, situated beside a partially frozen waterway. Snow blankets the ground ...
Category

1910s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original 19th Century Romantic English Landscape Village Cottage Oil Painting
Located in Stockholm, SE
This captivating early 19th century antique oil painting presents a beautifully executed pastoral scene by an unknown but undoubtedly professional English master - signed lower left ...
Category

Early 19th Century Romantic Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Peasants in a Cornfield (Boer in het veld) by David Teniers the Younger
By David Teniers the Younger
Located in Stockholm, SE
Remembering the magic of everyday life moments in the art of David Teniers: The art of David Teniers the Younger (1610–1690) coincided with the heyday of the Flemish Baroque and cap...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Rowboat Beneath the Trees, 1918
Located in Stockholm, SE
This evocative landscape by Axel Edvard Peter captures the serene beauty of nature with remarkable skill. Painted in 1918, the scene depicts a wooden rowboat resting in still waters beneath the sheltering branches of a lush tree. The dappled sunlight filtering through the foliage creates a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow, while the artist’s use of short, expressive brushstrokes imbues the composition with a vibrant, almost impressionistic quality. The rich greens and golden hues of the landscape reflect Peter’s mastery of color and atmosphere. Axel Peter was a Swedish painter known for his distinctive artistic voice, shaped by his studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm and further training in Paris and Germany. He was part of the influential Opponents’ Movement (Opponentrörelsen) of 1885, alongside artists such as Richard Bergh, Nils Kreuger, and Eugène Jansson...
Category

1910s Post-Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Harvest Time by Hjalmar Sandberg, Swedish Artist, Oil on Canvas, Signed, 1876
Located in Stockholm, SE
Hjalmar Sandberg (1847-1888) Sweden Harvest Time, 1876 oil on canvas canvas size 14.96 x 18.11 inches (38 x 46 cm) frame 18.70 x 25.59 inches (47.5 ...
Category

1870s Impressionist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Rediscovered Mastery: A Portrait by Nina Bergstedt
Located in Stockholm, SE
This poignant portrait by Swedish artist Nina Bergstedt captures a quiet intensity that lingers in the viewer’s mind. The sitter, an unknown woman, is portrayed with deep emotional p...
Category

1890s Realist Stockholm - Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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