Robert Wilhelm Ekman
Robert Wilhelm Ekman | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 19 February 1873 | (aged 64)
Nationality | Finnish |
Known for | Painting |
Robert Wilhelm Ekman (August 13, 1808 – February 19, 1873), a.k.a. R. W. Ekman, was a significant teacher and painter of the Finnish romantic portraits and early national romanticism.[1][2]
Childhood and Arts Education[]
Robert Ekman was born in Uusikaupunki, Finland to an upper-class family. His father was , a medical doctor and a mayor, and his mother was Sara Elisabet (maiden name Gadolin). Both of his parents died when he was approximately 10 years old. They left behind five orphans who were placed in foster homes. Their schooling was incomplete and there was no chance of higher academic education.[1]
Robert Ekman first studied art under the guidance of Finnish painter Gustaf Wilhelm Finnberg (1784–1833), but in 1824 together with his brother Fredric, Joachim begun studies at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm and later studied in the studio of Johan Gustaf Sandberg (1782–1854). Already as a student Ekman specialized in portraying the life of the common people, instead of Classicism of the academic arts. Ekman graduated in 1836, and was granted a generous traveling scholarship for excelling in his studies. This supported him working in the Netherlands, France and Italy between years 1837–1844. As the scholarship was not plausible otherwise, Ekman took Swedish citizenship.[3][4][1]
Court Painter and a Teacher[]
Upon returning to Stockholm, Ekman was dubbed as an agré (member candidate) and was accepted as a member of the academy in 1844. The title included the one of royal court and history painter. In 1845 Ekman returned to Turku, where he began decorating the Turku Cathedral with wall paintings. The laborious fresco were finished in 1854. Additionally, he completed over 30 church altarpieces during his career including works at Helsinki (1846–1848), Sääksmäki (1847), Viitasaari (1849), Sauvon (1853), Oulu (1859), Tammela (1860), Vaasa (1861), Pori (1863), Paimio (1865), Tyrvää (1866) and Perelt (1871).[5]
Having lived in Finland for ten years, Ekman regained Finnish citizenship in 1855. Having moved to Turku, Ekman started working on art education with master painter (1800–1862). In 1846 the was founded and led by Ekman until his death. He died at Turku during 1873.[6][5]
Works[]
Portrait of Mathilda Rotkirch, 1848
- Recites Poems in a Cottage in
Ensign Stål and the Undergraduate, 1853
Mikael Agricola Hands Over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa, 1853
Portrait of Georg August Wallin, 1853
Bishop Henry Baptizing Finns, 1850–54
Scene from J. L. Runeberg´s "Moose Hunters", 1856
Ilmatar, 1860
Fleeing Paganism; Väinämöinen Gives Way to the Power of the Cross, 1860
Italian Man with a Child, 1860
Jesus Wakes Lazarus, 1860
Väinämöinen and Maiden of Pohjola, 1861
Lemminkäinen's Mother at Tuonela, 1862
Emperor Alexander II Declares the 1863 Diet Session Open, 1865
Bridal Sauna
Väinämöinen's Play, 1866, a 4-meter tall painting displayed at Old Student House, Helsinki
Lemminkäinen at the Fiery Lake, c. 1867, depicting a call for help from Ukko
Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage, 1868
Mary Magdalene by the Grave of Christ, 1869
Winter Fishing in front of Turku, 1872
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Robert Wilhelm Ekman". Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ Reitala, Aimo (19 April 2016). "Ekman, Robert Wilhelm (1808 - 1873)". Kansallisbiografia. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Gustaf Wilhelm Finnberg". ateneum/guide. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ Bo Lundström. "Johan Gustaf Sandberg". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Robert Wilhelm Ekman". lahteilla. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ "Söderstrand, Carl Gustaf (1800 - 1862)". kansallisbiografia. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
Other sources[]
- Hintze, Bertel (1926) Robert Wilhelm Ekman 1808–1873: En konsthistorisk studie (Helsingfors: Schildt)
Media related to Paintings by Robert Wilhelm Ekman at Wikimedia Commons
- 1808 births
- 1873 deaths
- People from Uusikaupunki
- Romantic painters
- History painters
- Fresco painters
- 19th-century Finnish painters
- 19th-century male artists
- Finnish male painters
- Finnish emigrants to Sweden
- Naturalized citizens of Finland
- Naturalized citizens of Sweden
- Swedish expatriates in Finland
- Swedish expatriates in France
- Swedish expatriates in Italy
- Swedish expatriates in the Netherlands
- Swedish people of Finnish descent