Louis Sparre
Encyclopedia
Count Pehr Louis Sparre was a Swedish
painter, designer and draughtsman, most noted for his early work in the Finnish
national romanticism and jugend styles. He also competed in the individual and team épée fencing events at the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Gravellona, Italy
, Sparre studied in Paris with Akseli Gallen-Kallela
, Eero Järnefelt
and Emil Wikström
and took part in painting trips in Karelia
with Kallela and Wikström. Sparre is often mentioned as a founder of the Karelianism
movement, along with Kallela. He moved to Finland in 1889, living there for almost two decades. In 1893 Sparre married the Finnish Eva Mannerheim, an artist and the sister of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
.
After the mid 1890s, Sparre reduced his work as a painter and instead worked on developing the industrial art and graphics industry in Finland. In 1897 he founded the Iris furniture and ceramics factory in Porvoo
. Impressed by the pottery of the English
-Belgian
ceramist and painter Alfred William Finch
, Sparre invited him to manage the ceramics department. By the request of his friend, Karl Emil Ståhlberg
, Sparre also worked as the director for the first Finnish fictional film
, the 20-minute long Salaviinanpolttajat
in 1907.
In 1908, Sparre moved back to Sweden and continued his painting career, concentrating on portraiture
and painting landscapes. By the time of his death in 1964 in Stockholm
, aged 101, Sparre had completed over 500 portraits.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
painter, designer and draughtsman, most noted for his early work in the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
national romanticism and jugend styles. He also competed in the individual and team épée fencing events at the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
Born in Gravellona, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Sparre studied in Paris with Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Akseli Gallen-Kallela was a Finnish painter who is best known for his illustrations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic . His work was considered very important for the Finnish national identity...
, Eero Järnefelt
Eero Järnefelt
Eero Erik Nikolai Järnefelt was a Finnish realist painter.Eero Järnefelt was born in Viipuri, Finland. His father August Aleksander Järnefelt was an officer in the Russian army and his mother was Elisabeth Järnefelt . He studied at the St...
and Emil Wikström
Emil Wikström
Emil Wikström was a Finnish sculptor. Among his best known works are the statues outside Helsinki Central railway station and the memorials of Elias Lönnrot and Johan Vilhelm Snellman....
and took part in painting trips in Karelia
Karelia
Karelia , the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden...
with Kallela and Wikström. Sparre is often mentioned as a founder of the Karelianism
Karelianism
Karelianism was a late 19th century cultural phenomenon in the Grand Duchy of Finland and involved writers, painters, poets and sculptors. Since the publishing of the Finnish national epic Kalevala in 1835, compiled from Karelian folk lore, culture spheres in Finland became increasingly curious...
movement, along with Kallela. He moved to Finland in 1889, living there for almost two decades. In 1893 Sparre married the Finnish Eva Mannerheim, an artist and the sister of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
.
After the mid 1890s, Sparre reduced his work as a painter and instead worked on developing the industrial art and graphics industry in Finland. In 1897 he founded the Iris furniture and ceramics factory in Porvoo
Porvoo
Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century...
. Impressed by the pottery of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
ceramist and painter Alfred William Finch
Alfred William Finch
Alfred William Finch was a ceramist and painter in the pointillist and Neo-Impressionist style.-Life and work:Alfred William Finch was born in Brussels, Belgium to English parents and lived his later life in Finland....
, Sparre invited him to manage the ceramics department. By the request of his friend, Karl Emil Ståhlberg
Karl Emil Ståhlberg
Karl Emil Ståhlberg was a Finnish photographer and engineer. He founded and managed his own studio Atelier Apollo in Helsinki....
, Sparre also worked as the director for the first Finnish fictional film
Fictional film
Fictional film or narrative film is film that tells a fictional story or narrative. Narrative cinema is usually contrasted to films that present information, such as a nature documentary, as well as to some experimental films...
, the 20-minute long Salaviinanpolttajat
Salaviinanpolttajat
Salaviinanpolttajat is a Finnish film made in 1907. While only 20 minutes in length, it is generally considered the first fictional film made in the country and as such, the starting point of Finnish cinema industry.-Origin:...
in 1907.
In 1908, Sparre moved back to Sweden and continued his painting career, concentrating on portraiture
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
and painting landscapes. By the time of his death in 1964 in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, aged 101, Sparre had completed over 500 portraits.