Omkring Ehrenstrahls tidigaste kända arbeten

Abstract

Summary The Swedish painter David Kloker Ehrenstrahl proves to be pure German in his artistic ideas, especially in his early works. He was born in Hamburg and worked in Holland for a couple of years together with his countryman Jurian Jacobsz. It has therefore been stated in all the literature about him that Dutch influences were observable in his works, which is not true. He employs a method that is common among German artists and quite different from the manner in which the Dutch painters worked. After his visit to Holland Ehrenstrahl came to Sweden, but whether in 1651 or in 1652 is not quite certain. There are eight of his early works in the collection at the castle of Skokloster on Lake Malar, not very far from Stockholm. They are signed and dated 1651 or 1652. It is now clear, however, that Ehrenstrahl did not take the direct way from Holland to Sweden. Ehrenstrahl was summoned to Wolgast, the residental capital of Pomerania, by Count Charles Gustavus Wrangel, a Swedish General famed in the thirty Y...