Richard Bergh
Encyclopedia
Sven Richard Bergh was a well-known Swedish painter from Stockholm
, Sweden. His paintings often depicted Swedish landscapes and portraits. In 1915, Bergh became the director of the Swedish National Museum.
in Stockholm, Bergh traveled to France where he frequently visited the artist colony in Grez-sur-Loing
. Bergh took an interest in psychology and incorporated it into his art, as evident by his painting Hypnotic Seance "with its evocation of the widespread contemporary interest in suggestion
and hysteria
." He had soon established himself as a portrait painter in Sweden, although his landscape paintings played an important role in the development of Swedish romantic nationalism
. Bergh produced several landscape paintings in Varberg
from 1893 to 1896. His father had also been a landscape painter.
Bergh's portraits of his friends have become his most enduring paintings. One of them, Nordic Summer Evening (1889–1900), is his most frequently reproduced painting. During his career, Bergh painted portraits for Ellen Key
, August Strindberg
, Gustaf Fröding
, Hjalmar Branting
, and others. His 1905 portrait of Strindberg, Porträtt av August Strindberg, is one of his most famous paintings; Bergh described Strindberg as "the most interesting model I have ever had. I read in his face, with its many lines of fate, as in a marvelous book." Bergh met Strindberg for the first time in 1889 and they soon became associates. A total of eighty-one letters Strindberg sent to Bergh during their friendship have been found, while twenty-six letters Bergh sent to Strindberg have been found.
In the 1890s, Bergh established an art school at his atelier in Stockholm. He became the director of the Swedish National Museum in 1915.
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...
, Sweden. His paintings often depicted Swedish landscapes and portraits. In 1915, Bergh became the director of the Swedish National Museum.
Career
After studying at the Royal Swedish Academy of ArtsRoyal 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 Stockholm, Bergh traveled to France where he frequently visited the artist colony in Grez-sur-Loing
Grez-sur-Loing
Grez-sur-Loing is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France.-People:It is located 70 km south of Paris and is notable for the artists and musicians who have lived or stayed there...
. Bergh took an interest in psychology and incorporated it into his art, as evident by his painting Hypnotic Seance "with its evocation of the widespread contemporary interest in suggestion
Suggestion
Suggestion is the psychological process by which one person guides the thoughts, feelings, or behaviour of another. Nineteenth century writers on psychology such as William James used the words "suggest" and "suggestion" in senses close to those they have in common speech—one idea was said to...
and hysteria
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
." He had soon established himself as a portrait painter in Sweden, although his landscape paintings played an important role in the development of Swedish romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
. Bergh produced several landscape paintings in Varberg
Varberg
Varberg is a locality and the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden with 26,041 inhabitants in 2005.Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their 'typical west coast' sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from wide sandy beaches to rocky terrain that continues north into...
from 1893 to 1896. His father had also been a landscape painter.
Bergh's portraits of his friends have become his most enduring paintings. One of them, Nordic Summer Evening (1889–1900), is his most frequently reproduced painting. During his career, Bergh painted portraits for Ellen Key
Ellen Key
Ellen Karolina Sofia Key was a Swedish difference feminist writer on many subjects in the fields of family life, ethics and education and was an important figure in the Modern Breakthrough movement...
, August Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
, Gustaf Fröding
Gustaf Fröding
Gustaf Fröding was a Swedish poet and writer, born in Alster outside Karlstad in Värmland. The family moved to Kristinehamn in the year 1867. He later studied at Uppsala University and worked as a journalist in Karlstad....
, Hjalmar Branting
Hjalmar Branting
was a Swedish politician. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party , and Prime Minister during three separate periods . When Branting came to power in 1920, he was the first Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden...
, and others. His 1905 portrait of Strindberg, Porträtt av August Strindberg, is one of his most famous paintings; Bergh described Strindberg as "the most interesting model I have ever had. I read in his face, with its many lines of fate, as in a marvelous book." Bergh met Strindberg for the first time in 1889 and they soon became associates. A total of eighty-one letters Strindberg sent to Bergh during their friendship have been found, while twenty-six letters Bergh sent to Strindberg have been found.
In the 1890s, Bergh established an art school at his atelier in Stockholm. He became the director of the Swedish National Museum in 1915.