About this sheet
An original nineteenth-century lithograph portrait of the celebrated Swedish painter Pehr Wickenberg (1812–1846), issued as the frontispiece to the rare publication Album Efter Taflor, published in Stockholm by Albert Bonnier in 1850. This finely executed portrait is accompanied by the original lithographed title page from the same work, making it an attractive and historically significant pairing.
Album Efter Taflor was produced as a memorial publication dedicated to Wickenberg's artistic achievements. The complete work contained ten lithographs, including this portrait frontispiece, a decorative lithographed title page, and eight plates illustrating scenes of everyday Swedish life. Published only a few years after the artist's untimely death, the album helped preserve and promote his reputation as one of Sweden's most admired Romantic painters.
The portrait depicts Wickenberg as a young man, rendered with remarkable sensitivity and tonal subtlety. Beneath the image appears a commemorative Swedish verse celebrating the artist's contribution to his country. The accompanying title page is richly ornamented with decorative lithographic typography and a charming vignette showing an artist at work before an easel, reflecting the artistic character of the publication.
Pehr Wickenberg is best remembered for his atmospheric winter landscapes and genre scenes, which occupy an important place in nineteenth-century Scandinavian art. His paintings are represented in major Swedish collections, and material associated with his life and work remains highly sought after by collectors of Nordic art, Romantic-era prints, and Swedish cultural history.
The elegant simplicity of the portrait, combined with the decorative appeal of the title page, makes this pair particularly suitable for framing and display. Whether appreciated as a memorial portrait of an important Scandinavian artist or as an example of mid-nineteenth-century Swedish lithographic production, it offers both historical and aesthetic interest.
Condition Report:
Good antique condition. General age toning throughout, with uniform browning to the title page as commonly encountered. Scattered foxing and light marginal staining. Minor edge wear, small chips, and handling marks consistent with age. The image areas remain well preserved and visually attractive. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.
Framing Suggestions:
These sheets display exceptionally well when framed together in a double-aperture mount using a warm ivory museum mat and a traditional gilt, black, or walnut frame. Alternatively, the portrait and title page may be framed separately as complementary decorative works. UV-protective glazing is recommended to preserve the paper and tonal quality of the lithography.
This offering is for an original nineteenth-century lithograph, not a modern reproduction. Any framed room visualizations are intended solely to illustrate potential display options and may not accurately represent the print's exact scale relative to the frame or interior setting. The print is sold unframed.
Technique: Lithograph
Maker: Oscar Cardon after Pehr Wickenberg, Stockholm, Sweden, published by Albert Bonnier, 1850.
