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The European Library
SWEDEN
This page is maintained by
Mrs. Lena Jacobson
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Unknown , Codex Gigas (Giant Book) or The Devil's Bible |
| The 'Devil's Bible' (89,5 x 49 cm, weighs 75 kg), contains the Old and New Testaments in pre-Vulgate Latin translations, Isidore of Seville's 'Etymologiae', Josephus' 'History of the Jews' in a Latin translation, the 'Chronicle of Bohemia', written by Cosmas of Prague, etc. The manuscript was written in the early 13th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlazice in Bohemia, the vellum used having been prepared from 160 calf skins. It is called the 'Devil's Bible' after the impressive picture of that potentate. According to legend the scribe was a monk who had been confined to his cell for some breach of monastic discipline and who, by way of penance, finished the manuscript in one single night with the aid of the Devil whom he had summoned to help him. In 1594 the manuscript was acquired by the Imperial Treasury in Prague. When the Swedish army conquered the city in 1648, it was brought to Sweden and presented to the KB the following year. Click here for more info about the "Codex Gigas". |
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Dahlberg, Erik , Stockholm viewed from the west (Kungholmen) |
| Erik Dahlberg had certain assistants during his preparatory work for 'Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna' (1st edition 1716). However, he himself adapted those drawings with which he had been supplied, and supervized the work of the engravers. This control over the work process was a decisive factor in The Suecia becoming a work comparable with the best of such works produced in 17th-century Europe. The drawings for The Suecia, which for the greater part are stored in the Royal Swedish Library, make it possible to reconstruct the work process. Those sketches made on location are in pencil. With the aid of the latter, drafts were produced, usually using quill and ink. These drafts in turn formed the basis for the final versions of the drawings, which were generally carried out in pencil and washed in grey. The process from the sketch through to the final version was complicated, and involved several interim stages. Great pains were taken to maintain uniformity of perspective. The broad panorama of Stockholm viewed from the west was preceded by comprehensive preparatory studies, and the sketches are witness to the careful and precise manner of drawing which characterizes Dahlberg’s early drafts. The summary treatment of the foreground, however, shows a freer style linked to the Merian tradition. This sheet is one of several examples of the way Dahlberg turned the paper during the course of work so as to make use of space; the left half of the panorama is drawn along one long side and the right half along the opposite long side. A comparison between the sketch and the finished copperplate engraving show amongst other things that the figures Dahlberg drew into the landscape generally only gave rough indications, which the engravers were then allowed to elaborate in order "to enrich and embellish the work". |
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Unknown , Nobelstiftelsens högtidsdag den 10:de december 1901 |
| Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833. He concentrated on developing nitroglycerine as an explosive and found that mixing nitroglycerine with silica would turn the liquid into a paste which could be shaped into rods of a size and form suitable for insertion into drilling holes. In 1867 he patented this material under the name of dynamite. Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to the Laureates at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. As stipulated in the will which was opened after his death in 1896, the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. Since 1969 an additional prize has been awarded at the ceremony in Stockholm, the Sveriges Riksbank (Bank of Sweden) Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, which was established in 1968 on the occasion of the Riksbank's 300th anniversary. The Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm has, almost without exception, taken place at the Stockholm Concert Hall (Stockholms Konserthus) since 1926. The Ceremony is followed by a banquet. In 1901 it was held at Grand Hotel, Stockholm. Since 1926, with a few exceptions, the Nobel Banquet has taken place at the City Hall (Stockholms Stadshus). The Nobel Festivities in Stockholm are arranged by the Nobel Foundation and are primarily an academic celebration focusing on science and literature. Recommended link: Nobel Prize's website |
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Swartz, Johan David , Charles XII, portrait |
| King Charles XII (1682-1718) is one of the Swedish kings who has earned international reputation. Above all he is famous because of his war against Denmark, Saxony and Russia, which in 1699 was leagued together against Sweden. This unsigned, half-length portrait of Charles XII, belonging to the KB, has been ascribed to Johan Swartz, who was disciple of the famous painter David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl. The portrait was acquried by the KB in 1919 and is considered to be among the most valuable items in the collection of hand drawn portraits. The artist's immediate perception, especially of the model’s eye, speaks for the presumption that the king actually posed for his portrait. Judging by the coulour indications written in German on the drawing, this is a sketch of a painting. The young king’s vigorous appeareance and thin hair indicates that the sketch was drawn during the suspension of hostilities in Altranstädt 1706-1707, where the king sat twice for Swartz. The portraits of Charles XII from the Altranstädt period went against all conventions for royal portraits at that time. According to several historical sources the king himself dictated that the portraits should focus on the image of the “soldier-king” and the conception of his unaffected manners. He had previously dropped his wig and had his hair cut short in order to brush it back. Accordingly, the ornamented court dress was replaced by a blue tunic, with or without cuirass. When reaching the Swedish capital the portraits from Altranstädt caused immediate attention. An eyewitness who compared one of Swartz’ completed paintings with the model could only state that the portrait completly resembled the features of the king: Swartz had reproduced the king’s sun tan as well as measles scars. |
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Hjortzberg, Olle , Olympiska spelen 1912 |
| This poster from the Olympic Summer Games in Stockholm 1912 was drawn by Olle Hjortzberg (1872-1959), a well-known Swedish artist and decorator. He was versatile and his works includes ecclesiastical drawing, bookbinding and portrait painting. The drawing in this poster represents Art Nouveau, with decorative floating lines. It was to carry the Swedish colours around the world. Art Nouveau played an important role in this complex period with the beginning of mass advertising. The nakedness of the men, in classic Greek Olympic style, drew some attention and Hjortzberg solved this problem by using the Art Nouveau ribbons were they were most needed. The Olympic Games in Stockholm were a success for Sweden, and the Swedish athletes won more medals than anyone else. |
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Unknown , Suecia antiqua et hodierna (Sweden - past and present) |
| The literary, scientific and cultural magnum opus, Suecia antiqua et hodierna is a work of distinction from Sweden's period as a great power. The background, from which this major work evolved from, is known as an era of culture and peace that emanated from the Treaty of Westphalia. The work was for its time considered exceptional with regard to both the depth and width of the inventory and the quality set by the draughtsmanship and the use of the, by then quite modern technique, of engraving and etching onto copper plates. High standards were set and some of the most prominent copper plate engravers from France and Holland were offered contracts. The project spanned several decades, plagued by setbacks and various alterations, eventually reaching a conclusion. |
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De Santa Cruz, Alonzo , World map in the form of globe gores |
| Alonzo de Santa Cruz (d. 1572) is the most renowned of the cartographers of the Council of Indian Affairs - Casa de Contratación - in Seville entrusted with the Padrón Real, the great and exemplary Spanish map of the discoveries in the New World. Of the very few of his works which are preserved, two are in Sweden, probably having been acquired by Johan Gabriel Sparfvenfeldt during his 1689-94 journeys in search of monuments with connections to the ancient Goths. A remarkable map of the city of Mexico is kept in the Uppsala University Library. The present world map in the form of globe gores in two hemispheres – a northern and a southern – has a waved scroll across the top bearing the inscription: Nova verior et integra totius orbis descriptio nunc primum in lucem edita per Alfonsum de Sancta Cruz Caesaris Charoli V archicosmographum, A.D. MDXLII. ‘A very new and complete description of the whole world now first prepared by Alfonso de Santa Cruz Cosmographer Major of the Emperor Charles V.’ At the bottom is a dedication to the emperor and a black eagle with the imperial arms. The hemispheres are each made up of 36 gores, the whole representing a globe with a diameter of 39 cm. The rich embellishment, however, indicates that the map was not intended for pasting onto a globe. It gives a tolerably accurate impression of the layout of the Padrón Real. Inscriptions by California refer to discoveries made as late as 1539. Other parts of the map, e.g. Scandinavia, display coastlines copied from the 1482 Ptolemy edition. Amongst the place names, which are about 1240 in number, we find the first mention of the names Rio de la Plata and Buenos Aires. |
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Unknown , St. Birgitta of Sweden's Revelations |
| Recently St. Birgitta of Sweden became a patroness of Europe together with two other female saints. St. Birgitta, the only woman canonised in the fourteenth century (1391), was already during her lifetime (1303-1373) one of the most intriguing persons in Europe. Through her revelations - Revelaciones - she tried to influence ecclesiastical life in Rome as well as the politics of the European royal courts. In most cases her revelations were written down in Latin by her confessors, but there are two unique documents in which Birgitta herself has written down two of her revelations in Swedish. The smaller autograph (B) is depicted above. The beginning of the text reads 'fyrst vil iac Þik sighia huru Þik aeru andelik understandilse gifin sea oc hora' i.e. 'First I want to tell you how you are given spiritual understanding to see and hear', which in the Latin version is rendered 'intelligentia spiritualium visionum' i.e. 'the understanding of spiritual visions'. The Latin text is found in the Revelaciones, book VIII, chapter 56. It is the Virgin Mary who turns to Birgitta in an apparition and speaks to her. This particular revelation, probably from 1361, had political implications in Sweden at the time. In the revelation St. Birgitta turns to four instigators, mentioned by name, giving them instructions for a rebellion against the Swedish King Magnus. Later, when the revelation was translated into Latin, some changes to the content had been made in order to suit readers in other parts of Europe. The king’s name, for instance, does not appear in the Latin version. As regards the manuscript itself, at some time the names of the four instigators have been erased. The erasing can clearly be seen at the end of line 11 in the text above. |
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