Robert Wilhelm Ekman

Robert Wilhelm Ekman ( born August 13, 1808 in Uusikaupunki, Finland, † April 19, 1873 in Helsinki ) was a Finnish painter and teacher of the National Romantic style.

Life and work

Erkman was in the Swedish-speaking part of Finland coast, born in Nystad ( Uusikaupunki ), the son of the physician Karl Kristoffer Ekman and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (b. Gadolin ). He began his studies in Finland Gustaf Wilhelm Finnberg (1784-1833) and continued it at the Kungliga Konsthögskolan ( Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts ) in Stockholm. In 1836 he completed his studies, was a Swedish citizen and made 1837-1844 study visits to the Netherlands, France and Italy. After his return to Stockholm in 1844 he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy.

1845 Ekmann returned back to Finland and became a teacher at the 1830 by Carl Gustaf Söder beach founded in Turku School of Drawing ( Turun Piirustuskoulu ). Ekman was an innovator of the Finnish Malererei, where he used particularly for the historical and portrait painting and the motives of the national epic Kalevala. In Turku, he painted the frescoes in the cathedral, which he completed in 1855. From 1850 he reformed the art class, which was founded in 1848 drawing school in Helsinki. In 1855 he became a Finnish citizen again. In Turku honors one of Wäinö Aaltonen (1894-1966) of red granite monument inaugurated in 1927 and created the major teacher and artist.

Works in public collections (selection)

• Finnish National Gallery ( Ateneum Art Museum ), Helsinki
• Gösta Serlachius Museum of Fine Arts ( Gösta Serlachiuksen taidemuseo ) Mänttä
• Tampere Art Museum ( Tampere taidemuseo ), Tampere
• Turku Art Museum ( Turun taidemuseo ), Turku