Carl Curman
Encyclopedia
Carl Peter Curman was a Swedish physician and a prominent balneologist. he was also a gifted amateur architect and photographer.
After school in Skänninge and Linköping, Curman studied medicine at the University of Uppsala, where he took his preliminary medical degree in 1856, and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, where he graduated with a master's degree in surgery in 1859 and a medical licentiate degree in 1864. He also spent several years as a student at the Royal Academy of Arts
in parallel with his medical studies, and was considered one of the most promising students in sculpture. Curman taught anatomy at the Academy of Arts as acting professor in 1864-1865. From 1869 until 1902 he held a professorship of plastic anatomy there. He was also docent of balneology and climatology at the Karolinska Institute 1880-1898.
Carl Curman's main claim to fame was as a balneologist. Anders Retzius
, who was Curman's teacher at the Institute, convinced him to take a position as physician at a bath resort outside Lysekil
, established by an old sea captain J. G. Mollén, who had acquired some medical knowledge during his time at sea. After Mollén's death in 1863, the resort was transformed into a joint-stock company and Curman given the task of making plans for a modern resort. He personally designed the bath house and other buildings and remained as head for the resort until 1888. Curman was an influential propagator for the health effects of baths and initiated and led the construction of many bath houses, including the Sturebadet bath house at Stureplan
in central Stockholm. Curman made the plans for the bath house and designed a façade modelled on the Ca' Vendramin Calergi
in Venice.
Curman also designed his own classicist villa at Floragatan in Stockholm. During the last two decades of the 19th century, the salon
s there, hosted by him and his wife Calla, née Lundström, were popular among the artistic and intellectual circles of the capital.
His children included the architectural historian and restoration architect Sigurd Curman.
After school in Skänninge and Linköping, Curman studied medicine at the University of Uppsala, where he took his preliminary medical degree in 1856, and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, where he graduated with a master's degree in surgery in 1859 and a medical licentiate degree in 1864. He also spent several years as a student at the Royal 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...
in parallel with his medical studies, and was considered one of the most promising students in sculpture. Curman taught anatomy at the Academy of Arts as acting professor in 1864-1865. From 1869 until 1902 he held a professorship of plastic anatomy there. He was also docent of balneology and climatology at the Karolinska Institute 1880-1898.
Carl Curman's main claim to fame was as a balneologist. Anders Retzius
Anders Retzius
Anders Retzius , was a Swedish professor of anatomy and a supervisor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm....
, who was Curman's teacher at the Institute, convinced him to take a position as physician at a bath resort outside Lysekil
Lysekil
Lysekil is a locality and the seat of Lysekil Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 7,568 inhabitants in 2005.The picturesque coastal town of Lysekil is a major tourist destination during the Swedish summer period from June to the end of August.Lysekil is known as originator of the...
, established by an old sea captain J. G. Mollén, who had acquired some medical knowledge during his time at sea. After Mollén's death in 1863, the resort was transformed into a joint-stock company and Curman given the task of making plans for a modern resort. He personally designed the bath house and other buildings and remained as head for the resort until 1888. Curman was an influential propagator for the health effects of baths and initiated and led the construction of many bath houses, including the Sturebadet bath house at Stureplan
Stureplan
Stureplan is a high-end public square in central Stockholm, between Norrmalm and Östermalm. The square connects the major streets Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan and Sturegatan...
in central Stockholm. Curman made the plans for the bath house and designed a façade modelled on the Ca' Vendramin Calergi
Ca' Vendramin Calergi
Ca' Vendramin Calergi is a palace on the Grand Canal in the sestiere of Cannaregio in Venice, northern Italy. Other names by which it is known include: Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, Palazzo Loredan Vendramin Calergi, and Palazzo Loredan Griman Calergi Vendramin. The architecturally distinguished...
in Venice.
Curman also designed his own classicist villa at Floragatan in Stockholm. During the last two decades of the 19th century, the salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
s there, hosted by him and his wife Calla, née Lundström, were popular among the artistic and intellectual circles of the capital.
His children included the architectural historian and restoration architect Sigurd Curman.
External links
- Collection: Carl Curman (Flickr Commons), photographs by Curman from the archives of the Swedish National Heritage Board