Marcus Larson
Encyclopedia
Simeon Marcus Larson was a Swedish landscape painter from Åtvidaberg
, Östergötland
. He has been recognized as "one of Sweden's foremost 19th-century painters" and labeled as "the most outstanding of the Swedish Düsseldorf painters." His paintings were known for being dramatic and primarily depicted rivers under violent skies as well as shipwrecks in storms.
to get a job. There he was hired by a saddle maker. This saddle maker saw Larson's talent for drawing and thought it might be of use for carriage
sketches and such. Larson was therefore given permission to attend courses at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
during the evenings.
While at the Academy, Larson discovered his calling for painting and made the decision to start a career dedicated to art. He completed his studies at the school between 1846 and 1848, and then moved to Helsingborg
to teach painting. While living there, his painting was largely impacted by the surrounding ocean. During a visit to Copenhagen
, Larson got to see the work of Danish marine artist Vilhelm Melbye, who gave lessons to Larson in marine painting. He received further education in the marine genre during the summer of 1850, when he traveled with the corvette
Lagerbjelke on an expedition to the North Sea
. Afterwards Larson journeyed through Norway to study fell
s and waterfalls.
for further education. There he received training in landscape painting from the German artist Andreas Achenbach
. Larson's reputation quickly spread and he frequently received orders from art dealers in the larger German cities. In 1855 he moved to Paris, where he lived for three years and painted a number of notable paintings. One of these paintings was Landskap med vattenfall (English: Landscape with waterfall), which was awarded with "honorable mention" at the World's Fair
.
Larson returned to Sweden in 1858 with a small fortune and decided to settle down in the province of Småland
. He built a large villa
outside of Vimmerby
, with the intention of starting an art school there for young landscape painters. Before starting the school, however, Larson went to Copenhagen to exhibit his paintings. He spent the autumn of 1858 and the spring of 1859 traveling between Copenhagen and the nearby Swedish province of Scania
. When Larson finally returned to his villa, it was burnt down in a fire. In 1860, the indigent artist left Sweden, never to return.
After staying some time in Helsinki
and Saint Petersburg
, Larson traveled to London in 1862 for the World's Fair
. At this time, however, his talent and reputation were decreasing. With almost no assets and suffering from tuberculosis
, Larson died in London on 25 January 1864.
Åtvidaberg
Åtvidaberg is a locality and the seat of Åtvidaberg Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 6,947 inhabitants in 2005.- History :...
, Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
. He has been recognized as "one of Sweden's foremost 19th-century painters" and labeled as "the most outstanding of the Swedish Düsseldorf painters." His paintings were known for being dramatic and primarily depicted rivers under violent skies as well as shipwrecks in storms.
Early career
Larson's father was a farm owner, but Larson did not inherit any possessions from him when he died and therefore moved to StockholmStockholm
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...
to get a job. There he was hired by a saddle maker. This saddle maker saw Larson's talent for drawing and thought it might be of use for carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
sketches and such. Larson was therefore given permission to attend courses at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
The Royal Swedish Academy of Arts or Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna, founded in 1773 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
during the evenings.
While at the Academy, Larson discovered his calling for painting and made the decision to start a career dedicated to art. He completed his studies at the school between 1846 and 1848, and then moved to Helsingborg
Helsingborg
Helsingborg is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark, with the Danish city...
to teach painting. While living there, his painting was largely impacted by the surrounding ocean. During a visit to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Larson got to see the work of Danish marine artist Vilhelm Melbye, who gave lessons to Larson in marine painting. He received further education in the marine genre during the summer of 1850, when he traveled with the corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
Lagerbjelke on an expedition to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. Afterwards Larson journeyed through Norway to study fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
s and waterfalls.
Later career and death
In 1852, Larson traveled to DüsseldorfDüsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
for further education. There he received training in landscape painting from the German artist Andreas Achenbach
Andreas Achenbach
Andreas Achenbach was a German landscape painter.Born at Kassel, he began his art education in 1827 in Düsseldorf under Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow at the Düsseldorf Academy of Painting. He studied at St Petersburg and travelled in Italy, Holland and Scandinavia...
. Larson's reputation quickly spread and he frequently received orders from art dealers in the larger German cities. In 1855 he moved to Paris, where he lived for three years and painted a number of notable paintings. One of these paintings was Landskap med vattenfall (English: Landscape with waterfall), which was awarded with "honorable mention" at the World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
.
Larson returned to Sweden in 1858 with a small fortune and decided to settle down in the province of Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
. He built a large villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
outside of Vimmerby
Vimmerby
- External links :* - Official site* - Theme Park...
, with the intention of starting an art school there for young landscape painters. Before starting the school, however, Larson went to Copenhagen to exhibit his paintings. He spent the autumn of 1858 and the spring of 1859 traveling between Copenhagen and the nearby Swedish province of Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
. When Larson finally returned to his villa, it was burnt down in a fire. In 1860, the indigent artist left Sweden, never to return.
After staying some time in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Larson traveled to London in 1862 for the World's Fair
1862 International Exhibition
The International of 1862, or Great London Exposition, was a world's fair. It was held from 1 May to 1 November 1862, beside the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, London, England, on a site that now houses museums including the Natural History Museum and the Science...
. At this time, however, his talent and reputation were decreasing. With almost no assets and suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, Larson died in London on 25 January 1864.