Artwork

Oscara Fredrica Leopoldina Wahlström (1828-1895), g.m. grosshandlaren, bruksägaren och bankmannen Joseph Nathanael Michaëli

Oscara Fredrica Leopoldina Wahlström (1828-1895), g.m. grosshandlaren, bruksägaren och bankmannen Joseph Nathanael Michaëli, by Amalia Lindegren, oil, 1862
Oscara Fredrica Leopoldina Wahlström (1828-1895), g.m. grosshandlaren, bruksägaren och bankmannen Joseph Nathanael Michaëli, by Amalia Lindegren, oil, 1862

Oscara Fredrica Leopoldina Wahlström (1828-1895), g.m. grosshandlaren, bruksägaren och bankmannen Joseph Nathanael Michaëli is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Amalia Lindegren. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting, created by Amalia Lindegren around 1862, is a portrait of Oscara Fredrica Leopoldina Wahlström, wife of Joseph Nathanael Michaëli, a prominent figure in commerce and finance. The work is characteristic of the Biedermeier style and is part of the Nationalmuseum's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Oscara Wahlström in a contemplative, serene pose, dressed in an off-the-shoulder white lace dress adorned with a brooch. Her attire and the artist's rendering reflect the social status and elegance associated with her husband's multifaceted career as a merchant, ironworks owner, and banker.

Technique & Style

Lindegren employed chiaroscuro to achieve depth and dimensionality, contrasting the subject's illuminated, intricately detailed dress against a dark brown background. This technique enhances the overall solemn mood of the portrait, aligning with Biedermeier's emphasis on realism and domestic intimacy.

History & Provenance

Painted circa 1862 by Amalia Lindegren, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts since 1856, the portrait is now held in the Nationalmuseum's collection, reflecting the artist's established position within Swedish art circles of the time.

Context

As a Biedermeier piece, the painting reflects the mid-19th-century European aesthetic valuing simplicity, comfort, and the domestic sphere. Lindegren's work, featuring a woman of high social standing, contributes to the movement's focus on portraying everyday life's quieter, more personal moments.

Legacy

While specific impacts of this portrait on the broader art historical canon are not prominently documented, it remains a notable example of Lindegren's oeuvre and the Biedermeier style in Sweden, preserved for public appreciation within the Nationalmuseum.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Amalia Lindegren

Artist

Amalia Lindegren

Amalia Euphrosyne Lindegren (22 May 1814 – 27 December 1891) was a Swedish artist and painter. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts (1856).

Nationalmuseum

Museum

Nationalmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Nationalmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.