Produits

Ferdinand Fagerlin (1825-1907) Sweden  

Portrait of Alice Ritter, The Artists Wife  

oil on canvas
signed with monogram
painted 1862
canvas size 27.95 x 22.83 inches (71 x 58 cm)
frame 39.37 x 34.64 inches (100 x 88 cm)
frame included.

Provenance:
Architect Georg Lindström, Stockholk

Exhibited: 
Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, 1936, The Düsseldorf School exhibition, catalogue p. 20, no. 63 — Portrait of Alice Ritter. Belonged to architect G. R. Ringström, Stockholm.

Literature: 
Konst i Svenska Hem, Collection No. 249, Georg Ringström — the portrait is illustrated on p. 183.

Ferdinand Fagerlin (1825-1907) Sweden

The Old Stone Stairway

oil on board
signed Ferd Fagerlin
unframed 24 x 18 cm

Provenance: 
Probably in the collection of Helena Göhle, Norrköping (listed in Konst i svenska hem, second edition, p. 599, as “Gallerfönster,” 25 × 17 cm); later in a Swedish private collection.

Exhibited: 
Probably  Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, 1936, The Düsseldorf School exhibition, catalogue p. 23, no. 90 — Sunlit Attic Room.

Essay:
This oil painting called The Old Stone Stairway by Ferdinand Fagerlin offers an intimate glimpse into a quiet interior space, where the stillness of the scene is punctuated by the soft daylight filtering through a window. Measuring a modest 24 x 18 cm, the painting captures the subtle play of light on the staircase and walls, evoking a serene atmosphere.

Ferdinand Fagerlin was born in 1825 in Stockholm and passed away in 1907 in Düsseldorf. He was a notable Swedish artist. His genre paintings often depicted Dutch fishermen, but he was also renowned for his dramatic portrayals of people and interiors. Typically associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting, Fagerlin's journey in art began as a shipbuilder's apprentice before he transitioned to studying at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts. His military service was followed by further artistic development in Düsseldorf and Paris under the mentorship of Thomas Couture. Fagerlin settled in Düsseldorf, where he cultivated his craft and reputation. His legacy is enshrined in several prestigious institutions, including Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Kalmar Art Museum, Norrköping's Art Museum, and Gothenburg's Art Museum. This piece reflects Fagerlin's keen eye for detail and his ability to convey emotion through the depiction of everyday scenes.

Ferdinand Hernlund (1837–1902) Sweden

By a Forest Lake in Småland

signed lower right “Ferd. Hernlund”
oil on canvas
unframed 45 × 78 cm (17.7 × 30.7 in)
framed 60 × 93 cm (23.6 × 36.6 in)
presented in a newly gilded frame

Exhibited:
Memorial Exhibition, Eksjö, 1966.
Konstsalongen, Nässjö.

Condition report:
The painting is in fine overall condition and has recently been conserved. Minor retouching is present, including small areas to the tree trunks. The colours remain clear and well preserved. A newly gilded frame is included.

Essay:
In By a Forest Lake in Småland, Ferdinand Hernlund presents the Småland landscape at the close of day, when the forms of trees, rocks and shoreline begin to dissolve into the gathering dusk. A wooded bank occupies the left side of the composition, its dark trunks and foliage forming a dense screen against the luminous sky. Beyond, the lake opens towards a distant horizon where an intense band of coral red and orange light is reflected across the still water.

Carl Ferdinand Hernlund was born in Eksjö in 1837 and developed an early interest in drawing. By 1862 he was working as a drawing teacher in his native town, and the following year he became a pupil of the landscape painter Per Daniel Holm. His studies subsequently took him to Düsseldorf and Karlsruhe, followed by further periods abroad.

Hernlund became particularly associated with landscapes from Småland and Östergötland. Contemporary and later biographical accounts describe his preference for simple, undramatic motifs and for landscapes characterized by summer light, greenery and a restrained sense of idyll. His journey to France in 1883 also brought him into contact with the landscape traditions of Fontainebleau and Barbizon, where direct study of nature and modest rural subjects had become central artistic concerns. In 1887 he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts.

The shoreline itself is treated with considerable freedom. Stones and rocks are indicated with broken strokes of grey, brown and muted violet, leading the eye towards the water. Against these darker tones, the brilliant reflections of the sunset acquire particular intensity. The warm red and orange light does not remain confined to the horizon but appears again in vertical and horizontal passages across the surface of the lake.

This sensitivity to changing light places the work within the development of Hernlund’s mature landscape painting. His earlier training was rooted in the composed landscape tradition associated with Düsseldorf and with Per Daniel Holm, but his later work reveals an increasing interest in more immediate effects of atmosphere. The influence of French landscape painting can be sensed in the simplicity of the subject and in the emphasis placed upon light rather than narrative.

The painting was included in the Hernlund memorial exhibition held in Eksjö in 1966.

Ferdinand Hernlund (1837-1902) Sweden

Sunset Over a Meadow

oil on canvas
signed Ferd. Hernlund
unframed 37x48 cm 
framed 54x67 cm.

Essay:

We are delighted to present an exquisite painting by the Swedish artist Ferdinand Hernlund, depicting a serene sunset over a lush, flower-dotted meadow. This captivating work is a quintessential example of Hernlund’s mastery in capturing the poetic beauty of nature.

Description of the Painting

The artwork beautifully portrays a tranquil summer evening. The sun is setting behind a line of trees, casting a warm, golden glow across the meadow. The sky is awash with hues of orange, pink, and soft purple, typical of a glorious sunset. The meadow in the foreground is rich with verdant grass, scattered with delicate wildflowers, adding a touch of vibrant life to the scene. A small stream winds its way through the grass, reflecting the colors of the sky, leading the viewer's eye deeper into the painting.

The Artist

Born on August 17, 1837, in Eksjö, Sweden, Ferdinand Hernlund was a distinguished painter and illustrator known for his lyrical and warm depictions of Swedish landscapes, particularly from regions like Kalmar, Kolmården, and the Östgötaslätten.

From an early age, Hernlund showed artistic talent, creating cityscapes of Eksjö as early as 1850. His formal art education included studies in Stockholm under the guidance of Per Daniel Holm and further refinement of his skills in European art centers like Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe, and Munich.

Hernlund's primary residence was in Stockholm, though he often traveled to capture the diverse and picturesque Swedish countryside. His works were regularly exhibited at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, where he was elected a member in 1887. Beyond his painting career, he contributed as an illustrator for notable works such as "Svenska folksägner" by Herman Hofberg and "Vårt land" by Gustaf Fahlcrantz.

Hernlund’s art is well-represented in several prestigious collections, including the Nationalmuseum, Kalmar Museum, and the Linköping Art Museum. 

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 stable panel, discolored old varnish. Some small retouching.