Alfred THÖRNE (1850-1916)

"SWEDISH SUMMER LANDSCAPE"

Oil on canvas C. 1900

Thörne came from a very poor background as the son of an itinerant shoemaker. He started painting at an early age and won a scholarship at the age of 24 to the Swedish Royal Academy where he studied for six years. He won the Royal Medal in 1880.

He received a grant and travelled on a study-trip between 1884-1886 to Germany, France, Italy and Belgium. He studied in Munich and was influenced by the South German landscapes. When he arrived in Paris he joined the Swedish artist's colony there and in Grez where he was a contemporary of Carl Larsson.

After his return to Sweden he came to paint mainly idyllic Swedish landscapes with lakes and rivers. Swedish Artist's Dictionary says that Thörne was one of the finest landscape painters in Sweden during the late 19th century. As an artist he always painted from life and he travelled extensively in Sweden. He was also commissioned to paint some portraits and an altarpiece for the church in Vimmerby.

Thörne was a member of the Swedish Artist's Union and the Artist's Association.

Exhibitions: Separate exhibition in Stockholm 1910, participated in the Royal Academy's yearly exhibitions in 1885 and 1887, the Nordic Art and Industrial Exhibition in Copenhagen in 1888, art exhibitions in Gothenburg in 1891 and 1902, the World Exhibition in Chicago in 1893, in Helsingborg 1903, in Norrköping in 1906 and in Lund in 1907. There was a memorial exhibition held at Konstnärshuset (House of Artists) in Stockholm in 1916.

Museums: National Museum, Stockholm, Nordiska Museet, Stockholm, the Royal Academy, Stockholm, and the museums in Linköping, Norrköping, Gävle and Sundsvall.

Literature: Svenskt Konstnärslexikon (Swedish Artist's Dictionary)

31 ½" x 23" / 80 cm x 59 cm

Ref. HG 7075